It’s natural to feel like you could be doing more when it comes to self-improvement. But being a better person doesn’t mean being overly hard on yourself. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Today, we will cover 5 simple and effective self-improvement tips to help you become a better person. Make sure to watch to the end!
the road to Character
by David Brooks
⏱ 13 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
The more self-kindness and self-compassion you have, the better equipped you’ll be to treat those around you the same way. Also, helping others can give your life a more profound sense of meaning. It can even help to increase your physical and mental health!
Here are 5 simple ways to build self-improvement into your daily routine and let go of negative thoughts about yourself.
Develop a growth mindset
The way you observe your successes and failures can affect your well-being, which is why it’s crucial to develop a growth mindset. This is the feeling that you’re always capable of improving. One of the ways you can boost this mindset is by overcoming challenges.
This isn’t easy, but it can be made easier if you expect these challenges as you establish your goals and think of ways to defeat them ahead of time. You should also be ready to adapt your plan when an unexpected challenge arises.
Another tip to having a growth mindset is the ability to ask for help when you need it. Remember – you can’t do everything by yourself! You can always reciprocate the kindness of others by helping them in return.
Acknowledging your accomplishments can help power up your growth mindset; even the most minor achievements deserve a pat on the back.
Reward yourself with small prizes, such as handmade medals or certificates that you can display in your room to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.
While you’re developing your growth mindset, develop your interests, too!
Spending time on activities and hobbies you enjoy or are good at does more than give a feeling of pleasure. It gives you a sense of freedom to expose your emotions and motivates you to keep working on developing your skills.
However, you should be careful to not push yourself too hard when working toward your goals, or you might get burnt out and lose interest in them.
Look at failures from different perspectives.
Whether at your job or in relationships, failures can sometimes feel like the end of the world. People are likely to fall into the trap of blaming themselves when they experience failure, even though multiple factors contribute to the situation.
When people or things fall short of your expectations, you can get overwhelmed with negative emotions, which can cloud your judgment. This is when you must challenge your thoughts.
Ask yourself if there are other ways to perceive the failure or invite a person you trust to share their views.
You should also remind yourself that the words ‘fail’ and ‘end’ can also be acronyms for “First Attempt In Learning” and “Effort Never Dies!”
Build harmonious relationships
The quality of our interpersonal relationships often creates our mood, which is why a strong rapport with family, friends, and colleagues is the foundation of good mental health.
Together with showing gratitude, listening and paying more attention to others, and giving thoughtful, constructive responses can also help build solid relationships.
A constructive response is an authentic, enthusiastic, and supportive reply, which makes the other person feel validated.
If your colleague is talking about how he spent his weekend, for example, affirm them by saying ‘It sounds like a real adventure!’ or ‘I wish I could spend my time like you do!’
Try to look beyond others’ conflicting emotional reactions and acknowledge their behavior, emotions, or perspective by putting yourself in their position.
Practice gratitude
When you’re knee-deep in your job, it’s easy to forget to take some time to appreciate how much you have. A regular practice of gratitude can keep you happy and healthy. Our favorite version of the gratitude practice looks like this:
You will need four parts of your body: your eyes, mind, hands, and heart.
Your eyes see the people and things you are grateful for, but might take for granted.
Set aside some time every day to contemplate them. This is the second stage; use your mind to reflect on the crucial things in your life.
Your hands symbolize putting your gratitude into action, whether it’s saying thank you, writing a thank you card, or giving a gift to show your appreciation. Finally, remember to use your heart to “be sincere when you’re showing your gratitude to others.”
Search for the meaning of life
A meaningful life gives life satisfaction. To find the purpose in your life, you need to ask yourself how you can help your family, friends, and society.
Volunteering, helping a friend, or caring for people around you can give you clues to what you find most satisfying. Additionally, you can list the activities that give you a longer-lasting sense of fulfillment.
You can also analyze your life to consider how your past achievements and experiences can support you in building a more meaningful future.
It’s normal to get stuck in attempts of trying to become the best version of yourself. But being a better person begins with treating yourself with the same loving kindness as you do others.
This means not judging yourself too harshly when your fall short of your goals and showing yourself patience and compassion on your bad days.
Keep in mind that there are many ways to become a better person, and those tips are just a few of our favorites. Find what feels most joyous and nurturing, and try to weave them into your daily life.
What do you think? Which self-improvement tip do you already use? Do you have any other tips you want to include? Share your opinion in the comment section! Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss anything, and you can enjoy the excellent content we send your way!
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