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How Can I Be a Better Person and Be Happy?
How Can I Be a Better Person and Be Happy?
From paying attention to small steps to keeping anxiety under control, here are 16 answers to the question, “What are your most effective tips to be a better person and be happy?”
- Start With Little Things
- Give Compliments
- Cultivate Positive Relationships
- Don’t Judge Anyone
- Take One Hour for Yourself Each Day
- Treat Yourself With Kindness
- Try the “Stages of Change” Model
- Focus on Gratitude
- Practice Acceptance
- Figure Out What “Better Person” Means to You
- Grow Self-awareness
- Keep No Grudges
- Adopt a Positive Mindset
- Be Open to Change
- Work in a People-centric Business
- Manage Anxiety
Start With Little Things
If you want to be a better person, start with the little things. For example, if you see someone drop something, or if you are in a restaurant and you see someone without silverware, rather than just walking by, offer to help. You don’t need to make a big deal about something as simple as lending a hand to another person, but the gratitude you will see on their face makes it all worth it.
Matthew Ramirez, CEO, Paraphrase Tool
Give Compliments
Give compliments to others. It’s a nice gesture, and in return, you may also get a compliment or feel better about the act of kindness you’ve just shown. Compliment someone on their eye makeup, or tell them that you like their shoes. A small gesture of gratitude is always appreciated, especially from a stranger.
Ann McFerran, CEO, Glamnetic
Cultivate Positive Relationships
Think about it—the people you surround yourself with can either build you up or drag you down. So, let’s focus on developing amazing relationships that will leave you feeling included and full of energy.
First things first, take stock of your current relationships. Who are those in your life that make you feel on cloud nine? These are the people that you want to invest more time and energy into. Plan fun activities or even just call them. Now, increase the number of these relationships over time.
Next, it’s time to let go of the relationships that aren’t serving you. This can be tough, but sometimes we need to say goodbye to those who make us feel bad about ourselves. It’s absolutely OK to distance yourself from toxic relationships and prioritize your own well-being.
Finally, work on yourself. What can you do to become someone else’s superstar relationship? Be open and honest with yourself. Remember that every relationship has its ups and downs. That’s normal.
Manuel Schlothauer, Founder, HeyManuel
Don’t Judge Anyone
I know, I know. It’s easier said than done. But if you can just keep this tip in mind, it will make a world of difference.
Everyone has their own journey and their own set of circumstances, and nobody’s life is more important than yours. So let them live the way they want to, even if that means doing things that may seem weird or different from how you would do them. You don’t have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand that everyone is on their own path and that path might look different from yours—and that’s okay!
Piotr Buczynski, SEO Researcher, Passport Photo Online
Take One Hour for Yourself Each Day
Engaging in at least one “off the clock” activity for one hour each day allows me to recharge and feel refreshed. Personally, I choose to spend my free time playing pickleball or volleyball. Both sports allow me to unplug and exercise as well as socialize. As a working dad of a child with special needs, that time is important to me and helps me be more productive both at work and at home.
Chris B., PR Rep, Minuteman Press International
Treat Yourself With Kindness
It’s essential to treat yourself with kindness. You can’t always be so hard on yourself and push your body and mind to crazy limits. Be nice. Give yourself a compliment. Go on a self-date to your favorite restaurant. A little TLC can do wonders for your health, and as a result, you’ll be a happier, nicer person.
Kenneth Lin, CEO, BOOP Bakery
Try the “Stages of Change” Model
As a psychologist, I emphasize the Stages of Change model with clients, friends, and family. This model emphasizes the steps toward becoming the best version of yourself, establishing concrete goals, and experiencing positive emotions along the way.
The six Stages of Change are pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse (I call this reaffirmation). These stages progress from initial awareness of the problems you face, preparing for change, taking action, holding onto new patterns of behavior, and then reaffirming and sometimes reevaluating your commitment to change.
More concretely, take moments out of your busy schedule and think about how you envision your ideal future, including how to better yourself and your relationship with others. Then write specific goals that will help you achieve that vision, and follow the Stages of Change model to accomplish these goals and reach your own version of happiness.
Tali Ditye, PhD, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder, Mommyhood101
Focus on Gratitude
Having worked in psychotherapy for some years, practicing gratitude is a key tip to becoming a better person and achieving happiness.
By consciously focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you can cultivate a sense of appreciation for what you have and what is going well. This can help shift your perspective from negative thinking to a more optimistic outlook.
Another tip is to prioritize self-care. Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally can help you feel happier and more fulfilled. This can include getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
Finally, cultivating positive relationships and connections with others can also contribute to happiness and personal growth. Investing in meaningful connections and supporting others can foster a sense of purpose and belonging. These tips may not be the only ones, but they can help lead you towards a happier and more fulfilling life.
Marketa Kropacova, Holistic Therapist, Alpha Therapies
Practice Acceptance
Acceptance offers many benefits that can enhance your personal growth and happiness. First, self-acceptance enables you to gain greater awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to develop and make positive changes.
Second, acceptance can reduce stress by letting go of things beyond your control, allowing you to focus on what you can control. Third, accepting others for their identity can strengthen relationships by fostering kindness and understanding. Additionally, acceptance can improve resilience, helping you manage challenges and setbacks better.
Last, by accepting your life, you can focus on the positive aspects and find joy in the present moment, leading to greater happiness. Acceptance can promote personal growth and happiness by improving self-awareness, reducing stress, fostering stronger relationships, building resilience, and promoting positivity.
Hardik Parikh, Designated Partner, Hardik Parikh Associates LLP
Figure Out What “Better Person” Means to You
Most people will tell you that the key to being a better, happier person is to exercise, eat healthy, and stay away from your phone. I’m definitely not disagreeing with these common tips, but I will say that “happiness” is subjective. What makes me happy isn’t necessarily what makes you happy, and vice versa.
I truly believe the two most important things to do if you’re trying to feel better about yourself are to spend time and energy trying to figure out what exactly that looks like for you. Does being a better person mean being kinder to others? Does it mean trying harder at work? Spending more time with your friends and family?
Start by prioritizing these parts of your life—which one of these things will bring you more happiness? Give it a try and if that doesn’t work, move on to the next idea on the list!
Roksana Bielecka, Community Manager, ResumeHelp
Grow Self-awareness
One way to be a better person and be happy is to work on your self-awareness. There are three primary skills for your relationship with yourself and others: knowing what you want, asking for it, and accepting if people say no.
Self-awareness helps you understand your wants and emotional needs, gives you the confidence to ask for them in an assertive yet non-aggressive way and provides the insight to understand why someone else may say no and how to accept this.
Emma Loker, Mental Health Specialist, Healthy Minded
Keep No Grudges
Grudges are harmful to both your body and mind. Holding a grudge means you’re impeding your own progress. Consider it to be like holding a ball of fire and intending to throw it at someone else—you’re the only one who gets burned. Allow it to go.
If you need assistance, look up “forgiveness meditation” on YouTube for a push in the right direction. Similarly, if you’ve done something wrong, simply apologize. You’ll feel a million times better for doing it!
Jeff Romero, Founder, Octiv Digital
Adopt a Positive Mindset
One tip to becoming a better person and finding happiness is to adopt a positive mindset and focus on the opportunities and choices you have in life. Instead of dwelling on negativity or obstacles, choose to have a good day and take steps towards your goals and passions.
Embrace new experiences and challenges, and don’t be afraid to seek help or support when needed. By prioritizing your own well-being and outlook, you can become a happier and more fulfilled person.
Mark-Anthony Beltran, Public Relations Associate, Broadway San Diego
Be Open to Change
To become a better version of yourself, you must be willing to change. To become the person you want to be, I think you must be open to the possibilities of change. Some people resist changing more than you think, making it harder for them to change. That is why they struggle to grow. You give yourself more power to grow and become the best version of yourself when you are willing to keep an open mind regarding change.
Ben Flynn, Marketing Manager, Manhattan Tech Support
Work in a People-centric Business
When you work in a business that has you interacting with people every day, and your primary job is to ensure that your services make these people happy, you’re bound to find happiness in even your smallest successes.
The formula is pretty simple; by doing things for others and striving each day to do them better, you discover a better version of yourself each day. And when your experiments and endeavors meet success, you find happiness at every stage. Besides providing you with the encouragement you need to keep going, these milestones also supply you with regular doses of happiness.
Tony Angeleri, Vice President, Lone Wolf Paintball
Manage Anxiety
Learning to manage anxiety can be a key factor in becoming a better and happier person. Anxiety is a natural signaling system in the brain that alerts us to potential danger, but sometimes it can become triggered by minor or non-threatening events, such as burning toast. By learning to recognize the difference between real and perceived danger, we can manage our anxiety more effectively.
For example, if we don’t receive a text message from a romantic partner, it’s likely not a reason to panic. However, if our minds interpret this situation as a catastrophic event, we need to take steps to manage our anxiety.
Fortunately, we have opportunities every day to practice managing our anxiety. The more we learn about anxiety and practice coping strategies, the more resilience we build and the better equipped we become to handle challenging situations. Managing anxiety can be truly life-changing and one of the most important gifts we can give ourselves.
Melissa Hudson, Marriage Therapist, Counseling Solutions of Texas
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