Wa alaikum Salaam Brother
You bring up a really important point. This is why, studying can only shed light on the Prophetic character. For this reason, it is important to keep the company of the righteous and observe their character in action.
This is why the Companions of the Messenger ﷺ excelled in the implementation of the Prophetic character - because the saw it first hand and kept the company of the Messenger ﷺ.
Just from a personal note, I studied (alhamdullilah) many books on the Prophetic narrations and character, but it wasn’t until I went to Tarim, Yemen that I saw it lived and embodied. It was an amazing thing to witness and a true blessing.
Seek them out. Keep their company as much as you can. Allah bless you. Waiting to hear your thoughts
Ustadh Yusuf Weltch