The holiday season always makes me think about how I can be a better person. It’s not that I don’t think I’m a good person, but no one’s perfect and everyone can better themselves in some way. If you feel like there’s a disconnect between the person you are and the person you want to be, we’ve rounded up 7 tips on how to become a better person all around.
Do you often say to yourself “I want to be a better person” or even wonder how to be a nicer person? I’ll say it again, thinking these things doesn’t mean you’re not a good person, it just means you recognize that there are some changes you can make to learn how to be the person you want to be.
Here are 7 simple things you can start doing now to better yourself.
Always Be Polite: This is such a simple change to start implementing if you’re not already doing it, and there’s no doubt it will help you be a better person. Always be polite. Hold the door for others, say “hello”, “please” and “thank you”, smile at others, don’t snap at people, even if you’re in a bad mood. No matter how you’re feeling inside, make a conscious effort not to take it out on the people around you. Even if someone is super rude or condescending to you, don’t let it determine how you act and react.
Use The Five-Minute Journal: The Five-Minute Journal is one of the best ways to enhance your life, be grateful for what you have and boost your positivity. A lot of people train their minds to focus on the negatives in life, but if you want to know how to be the best you, you’re going to have to switch your mindset. With the Five-Minute Journal, you answer five questions each day. At the start of the day you write down what you’re grateful for, what would make your day great and daily affirmations. At the end of the day, you write down 3 amazing things that happened today, as well as ask yourself how you could have made your day even better.
These questions all urge you to be more aware of what’s happening in your life on a daily basis and help you find gratitude and positivity in the things that happen to you. Going to bed and waking up with positive thoughts is one of the best ways to better yourself! Learn more about the Five-Minute Journal HERE.
Own Up: Many people blame others for almost everything that goes wrong in their life. They make excuses and don’t take responsibility for their actions. If you find you ask yourself “how can I be a better person?” on a regular basis, make sure you’re owning up to your actions, downfalls and mistakes. If you’re not happy, if you’re not seeing the success you want, if you’re not in the place you want to be, don’t make excuses for yourself, own up and figure out what you need to change. In taking ownership you’ll become happier and healthier and your relationships are bound to improve too.
Practice Forgiveness: Are you holding on to anger and hurt because someone betrayed you or caused you pain? Forgiveness can help you let go of anger and negativity and help you become a better person. If you need help figuring out how to become the person you want to be, look within first, and try to understand what negative feelings you’re holding on to. Let it go. Forgive those who have hurt you and caused you pain. Do it for yourself, because you will be able to live a much healthier and happier life without that pain and anger.
Educate Yourself: If you really want to know how to become a better person in life, educate yourself. Don’t let yourself walk through life being ignorant and oblivious to what’s going on in the world. Educate yourself on current events, read the news, talk to people with different points of view, read books. Continue to learn and keep yourself up to date with different cultures, events and people. It will help you become more well-rounded and also develop a range of view points.
Volunteer: When you give and do for others, you learn how to become great. Giving back to a cause you care about can help you grow as a person and become better all around. Don’t just volunteer anywhere, find a cause that’s close to your heart and means something to you. Maybe it’s a women’s shelter, the humane society, a local children’s hospital. Volunteering your time and giving back helps you see the world from another vantage point and can really make you grateful for what you have.
Travel: When you travel to new places, you learn about new culture, new people, new ways of living. You get to experience the world from a new perspective and see how people live their lives in different parts of the world. Continuous traveling ensures you never stop learning and it can help you figure out how to be the person you want to be. Whenever I travel to a new place, I always become more humbled and grounded. Especially if it’s a second or third world country. There is so much to learn outside of our little bubble, and it can only make us better people.
If you want to become a better person, these 7 tips can help you get there. Try them out and see how much happier you are in your everyday life. There’s no way you won’t feel happier and healthier after implementing these tips!