How to be better
The process of how to be better is going to be different for everyone. For those who are religious, a course on how to be better may include suggestions like attending church services, paying more often or committing more time to serving God. For someone who is struggling with health issues, a lesson on how to be better at managing your weight, exercising, and avoiding junk food may be most appropriate. But there are some principles of being better that apply to all of us, no matter what our personal flaws are. We can become better human beings, by taking the time to focus on others instead of ourselves. What is ironic is that in most cases being better person comes easiest when our focus is not on improving ourselves, but in being there for someone else.
|
|
Use kind words
We are all capable of sharing kindness with others. The easiest way to do this is to share a kind word. You could offer a stranger a compliment or tell someone close to you how much you value him or her as a friend. Take time to say what you feel. You may be a little nervous at first, but rest assured that sharing a kind word is not a sign of weakness, but rather an acknowledgment of something very positive. Sharing kind words carries with it a number of benefits that make you a better person. You improve your communication skills and adopt a more positive outlook on your environment when you are looking for nice things to say.
Listen
Being better is hard to do without help from others. By being a good listener and taking time to observe the behaviors of those that you admire, you can learn a great deal about how to handle yourself in certain situations. Listening is also a skill that is highly desirable if you wish to keep your friends. We all want someone who will take some time to just listen to us every now and then. Be there for someone who is close to you and it will surprise you just how much insight you will gain from being a good set of listening ears.
Humility
Humility is an attribute that has taken on a negative connotation. Some people associate humility with weakness. But never before has it been as true as it is now that humility is a virtue that is one of the most rare and desirable of them all. There are many things that you can do to gain a greater amount of humility. The first is to practice the art of apologizing. The concept is simple. When you do wrong to someone else, apologize. When something regrettable happens, the way that you handle yourself can speak loudly about your character. If you are the kind of person who cannot acknowledge that you are wrong and apologize when your actions have negatively affected another, your ego will be in the way of being a better person.
Give your time
Time is valuable. When you give away your time, you gain the opportunity to have experiences that can deeply develop your character. Help a stranger in a grocery store or pull over to help the person changing a tire on the side of the road. Call up a friend when you know they are working on a project or having a hard time emotionally and volunteer to be with them. Donate to the community. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or donate some gently used items. Pick an organization and donate on a regular basis. Your gesture may be simple, but making the conscious effort to step outside of yourself to help someone else will inevitably help you on the road to becoming a better you.
