9 Ways You Can Be a Better Person Without Actually Changing Your Habits Too Much
By Sarah Williams
What does becoming a better person really mean?
Do we start treating others better first? Do we take steps to help the environment and make the world a better place? Do we fix our relationships with loved ones or learn how to forgive ourselves for the mistakes in the past and let go of our failures?
There are many ways you can be a better person. And the good news is that you don’t actually need to change your habits and lifestyle too much. Most of the aspects of this transformation are connected to developing a different mindset.
It’s true that change starts on the inside. Once you follow the tips described below, you’ll begin seeing a positive transformation on the outside too.
Here’s what you can do to be a better person:
1. Stop getting angry.
You know how everyone wants to stay away from people with anger-related issues. It’s not nice to be around such negativity. But turns out anger is ruining our health too.
It makes you anxious, weakens your immune system, leads to poor heart health, and can cause diseases.
If you struggle with that every now and then, you might want to practice some anger management techniques so you can help yourself and those around you and improve your relationships.
Do that by first learning to recognize when you’re getting angry and trying to find out the real reason why. Being aware of the triggers helps you get back control of your behavior.
You can tame your temper by breathing deeply so you can be mindful and avoid the chain of reactions that follows.
2. Listen more.
The next easy way to become a better person is by improving your listening skills.
Communication is where most relationship problems begin and by relationships, we mean all of them, including the one you have with yourself.
We often stop listening to others and are in a rush to interrupt them, respond emotionally or start sharing what’s on our mind.
All of these reactions are the unhealthy way to communicate. Instead, you need to slow down, be present and really listen to whoever you’re talking to.
Even if you don’t say anything, you will begin understanding them better, will improve your relationship with that person, and will make them feel better.
3. Be grateful.
Gratitude makes you a better person. However, its effects can be felt only when you begin practicing it.
Expressing gratitude on a daily basis can happen by simply counting your blessings, maybe writing down a few things you’re thankful for each morning, or simply taking a moment during the day to stop, look around and smile for what’s there.
Research shows this makes you happier and healthier. In addition, you suddenly start appreciating people in your life more, become more generous, smile more often and thus raise the energy of those around you too.
4. Learn to let things be.
Letting go can make you more peaceful and help you find balance in life. It’s a skill that will allow you to never argue with people again, to stop judging and blaming, and to enjoy life more.
Do that by bringing yourself back to the present moment and not allowing any thoughts related to the past or future to interfere. Just be here and then you won’t need to hold onto mistakes from the past, to expect too much from yourself or others, or to complicate things.
Letting go leads to simplicity and increases happiness. Take small steps every day to let things be and accept them the way they are.
5. Express your feelings.
Every now and then, tell the people you love how you feel. It never hurts to be reminded of that and it will strengthen your relationships.
If you have something on your mind, say it out loud instead of keeping it to yourself. That allows things to always be clear and no one will be disappointed.
Being honest and direct helps both you and others. Honesty can fix many problems and prevent issues in the future. While it might be hard in the beginning as expressing your feelings makes you feel weak, once you become comfortable with it you find out it turns you into a better version of yourself.
6. Help others.
One of the most genuine ways to be a better person, improve the lives of those around you and feel good about yourself is to help when you can.
It doesn’t need to be big. You can make compliments to people, give them advice, keep them company, give small tokens of appreciation, and show them you care.
7. Love yourself.
Loving others begins with self-love. Learn how to accept yourself for who you are, to notice your good sides and focus on them instead of constantly looking at what you aren’t good at.
Don’t bring the burden from past mistakes with you in the present and stop worrying about the future. Instead, learn from what was and be hopeful for the future.
Loving yourself will teach you how to be compassionate and treat others with respect. It will turn you into a more confident and positive individual too.
8. Think before you speak.
Words can hurt and we often end up saying the wrong thing or our timing isn’t good. Not saying anything can often be the wiser choice, but thinking before you speak can always give a better result.
Work on this for some time until you can control your actions. Becoming a more considerate person will allow you to see things from a different perspective. You’ll notice how your first thoughts aren’t always right and how many awkward situations you can prevent by simply staying silent.
9. Have faith.
Having a hard time is inevitable. The ups and downs in life can turn us into miserable people, can make us start complaining about everything, or even ruin our ability to appreciate others and be happy for them.
That’s why you should have faith that things will always get better. Thanks to that, you will never give up, will inspire others to try again and have hope, and will remove the negative energy by always believing things will be just fine.
That’s how you can become a better person and live a more enjoyable life without actually putting effort into making big changes in your life or forming many new habits.
Sarah Williams is a self-development writer and dating coach. Her mission is to help men of all ages create stronger, body and mind and use their full potential in social interactions. You can read more her thoughts on Wingman Magazine.