AddDocumentListener's variable scope when creating two titles (using TitledBorder) in Java Swing

Hello I am trying to display one String ("Character Count: ") and one dynamic character count on the bottom of JTextArea. When I run this code below, there is a panel that opens up without characterCountTitle. Only when I start typing, characterCountTitle displays and the number is correctly dynamic.

My goal is to show characterCountTitle (string + character count) as soon as the panel is open to users.

private void initComponents() {
    this.notePanel.getNoteDocument().addDocumentListener(new DocumentListener() {

        TitledBorder characterCountTitle;
        Border emptyBorder;

        public void insertUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        public void removeUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        public void changedUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        private void displayEditInfo(DocumentEvent e) {
            Document document = e.getDocument();

            emptyBorder = BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder();

            //displays a string of "Character Count: " and another string of dynamic character count 
            characterCountTitle = BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(emptyBorder, "Character Count: " +  document.getLength());
            characterCountTitle.setTitlePosition(TitledBorder.BOTTOM);
            panel.setBorder(characterCountTitle);
        }
    });

    this.panel.add(notePanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    this.panel.add(navigation.buildPanel(), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}

Due to this issue, I was trying to create two titles; one for string(outside of addDocumentListener) and one for character count (inside displayEditInfo method), but it messes up the variable scope.

I'd greatly appreciate your input!

You may simply create and add your border outside of the DocumentListener, and just change the title text on document events :

private void initComponents() {


        Border emptyBorder = BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder();
        final TitledBorder characterCountTitle = BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(emptyBorder, "Character Count:");
        characterCountTitle.setTitlePosition(TitledBorder.BOTTOM);
        panel.setBorder(characterCountTitle);

        this.notePanel.getNoteDocument().addDocumentListener(new DocumentListener()                 {

        public void insertUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        public void removeUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        public void changedUpdate(DocumentEvent e) {
            displayEditInfo(e);
        }

        private void displayEditInfo(DocumentEvent e) {
            Document document = e.getDocument();


            //displays a string and dynamic character count
            characterCountTitle.setTitle("Character Count: " +  document.getLength());
            panel.repaint();

        }
    });

    this.panel.add(notePanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    this.panel.add(navigation.buildPanel(), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}