7 Tips That Can Help You Become a Better Person

Hearing about the struggles someone goes through is always more interesting to me than their achievements. It’s the process someone goes through that really sheds light on the amount of strength and humility their character possesses. As humans, we are complex by the histories we can’t erase and the contradicting levels of doubt and self-assurance that co-exist in each and every one of us. We all have a strong desire to do something, to improve, and progress. But, how does one convert dreams into reality? Psych2Go shares with you 7 tips that can help you become a better person:

1. Become more self-aware, even if that means addressing things about yourself that you don’t like or feel insecure about.

Know who you are in this very moment and ask yourself what parts of you you’d like work on. Recognize what your flaws are, what bothers you, but also the strengths that you possess. Are you overly stubborn but have a lot of resilience? Do you get easily upset, but look out for your friends when they’re in trouble? See if there is a balance that can be achieved when you have two extremes operating within you and work towards it.

2. Communicate with others openly when you feel upset or hurt by their actions instead of dropping hints or hoping they will “just know.”

Never assume that someone else knows exactly how you feel. If you’re mad at a coworker or loved one, learn how to confront them effectively by communicating honestly about the situation. This will help you boost your emotional intelligence, which is an important life skill to master. Don’t hold yourself back just because what you have to say may cause conflict. You can deliver your thoughts in a way that helps the other person know where you’re coming from, rather than having them feel attacked. It wouldn’t be fair on your part to pretend like everything is okay if something is bothering you, and it certainly won’t help you grow.

3. Take responsibility for your actions and don’t blame others.

Constantly blaming others and pointing fingers won’t get you very far in life. If you make a mistake, own up to it. If you are wrong about something, admit to it, sincerely apologize, and find ways to understand better so a similar situation won’t happen again in the future. Take full control of your life. That means learning how to be considerate about the way your actions can affect others.

4. Educate yourself when you are unsure about something, instead of waiting for the answers to come to you.

Keep an open mind and don’t be so quick to dismiss someone else’s opinion, even if you disagree with it. Ask others to elaborate and provide further explanations for the stance that they take. It’s also important to acknowledge that sometimes, things aren’t so black and white. While you may be searching for one true answer, know that reality isn’t necessarily that rigid. Life changes over time, including the events that happen around you. Be in check with how your acquired knowledge and the way you perceive the world compares to the present. Do the two of them line up? Or is there a disharmony? Asking these questions can help you be proactive about understanding the world better.

5. Learn to let go of anger and forgive.

When you allow anger and resentment to get the best of you, the two weigh you down. As a result, you end up carrying more baggage that makes it difficult for you to move forward. Holding grudges doesn’t actually give you more power, even if it feels that way in the moment. In fact, because you’re still holding onto anger, it means you’re allowing the situation to affect you deeply. This confirms that the situation has the power to hurt you.

In order to reach a state in which your anger no longer consumes you, try to recognize where the source of hurt is coming from and see if you can change it. If the situation cannot be fixed right away, adapt a different perspective. Realize that life is one large compilation of temporary events. Instead of expressing anger immediately towards someone, you can train yourself to express it differently through journaling or exercising. The more it shifts to productivity, the easier it is for you to let go when you’re not necessarily focusing on the situation anymore, but rather the activity you are doing to release that anger. Learn to forgive others, but also yourself within the process.

6. Be open to change.

You don’t have to change your life drastically overnight. Instead, you can go at the pace you are comfortable taking and try new experiences one day at a time. For instance, you can start off small by trying a new food. Next, you can go on a date. Before you know it, you may find yourself traveling to more places or moving to a new city within the future. Just don’t grow complacent in your comfort zone. Otherwise, you rob yourself of all the opportunities you can take to enrich your life. Change may not necessarily offer you progress each time, but without change, progression certainly can’t happen.

7. Accept the negative emotions you experience and don’t suppress or be afraid of them.

Know that you’re not any less of an amazing person that you are just because you still have insecurities, uncertainty, or sadness that linger. These are very much a valid part of what it means to be human. Don’t deny the bad days that happen just because they aren’t great. Getting better means taking the storm with you, not necessarily trying to abandon it every chance you get. It’s about confronting it —looking at it straight in the eye, and still managing to find the calm within you, even amidst the loud, confusing chaos.

Do you find these tips helpful? Psych2Go would love to hear your thoughts! Please be sure to leave a comment down below!

References:

Mager, D. (2017, January 17). 8 Strategies to Work Through Anger and Resentment. Psychology Today. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

Quindlen, K. (2017, September 30). 18 Uncomfortable Signs You’re Actually Becoming a Better and Stronger Person. Thought Catalog. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

Rampton, J. (2014, December 9). 15 Ways to Become a Better Person. Inc. Retrieved November 2, 2017.