Things You Can Do That Will Make You A Better Person

Become More Patient
Patience is a very desirable trait, and as you might expect, many people do not have it. It is something, however, that is worthwhile developing. If you don't have patience you will become annoyed, bothered, irritated, and frustrated easily. Little things will lead to arguments, yelling, and hurt feelings. Patience gives you peace of mind and a feeling of contentment.

Many situations lead to impatience: yelling at children, long lines at the grocery store, heavy traffic, arguments, waiting at the doctor's office, and so on. Any of them can easily make you become impatient and lose your temper. So, how do you develop patience? It takes time and practice; Although most people do not think of it as a skill, it is a skill and that means that you're not going to acquire it overnight. You will have to devote time and effort towards developing it. Furthermore, it may mean changing your mindset.

One of the first things you can do when you find you are becoming impatient is count to ten before you say anything in particular before you lose your temper. Also, make up your mind to restrain yourself even if you feel stressed. Wait until you calm down.

Acceptance

Accept things that you have no control over, don't worry about them. Ask yourself: Is it really worth it to get annoyed? You likely have little control over the problem so it's not worth worrying about it. If you do, the only thing that will happen is that your blood pressure will go through the roof. So calm down, relax, and accept the situation as much as you can.

Smile at People and Say "Hello"
Have you ever noticed how most people prefer to avoid making eye contact with other people? They prefer walking around with their head down, looking at the floor or sidewalk. You may also have noticed that when you are at a stop sign and a car pulls up beside you, the driver prefers to stay back a bit so he can't see you directly. Maybe he's worried that you might turn and smile at him.

A good habit to develop is to keep your head up and make eye contact with people in front of you. Smile at them. It may surprise you, but many will smile back if you take the initiative. If they look friendly, say "hello." Resolve to do this at least once a day. It will make you feel better when someone says "Hello, how are you?" back.

This applies tenfold when you see someone you know. Smile broadly as you greet them. Act as if they're your best friend.

Listen Better
Most people are not good listeners. They would rather talk than listen. I remember standing in a doorway looking at people seated at tables playing bridge where I would swear that everybody in the room was talking, and no one was listening. So becoming a better listener is another habit that will make you a better person. You may, in fact, lose out on a lot of important information by not listening properly. And being a good listener is more than not interrupting and finishing people's sentences. Like patience, it's also a skill.

Some of the things you should do to become a better listener are:

A. Make eye contact with the person whom you are talking to.

B. Let them finish talking before you say anything.

C. Give them your complete attention.

D. When asked a question, respond immediately, and don't suddenly change the topic.

E. Don't say, "Yes, I know... I know."

F. Don't say, "No, you've got it wrong."

G. Don't try to impress them with your answers.

H. Don't become distracted and begin doing something else.

Compliment People
Everyone likes a compliment, and most people get very few. Furthermore, most people are very appreciative of compliments when they get them. In many cases, it makes their day.

How often do you compliment people? Not often, I'd guess. Many people feel too embarrassed to compliment someone. But no doubt giving a compliment pays dividends. The person receiving it immediately feels more friendly towards you and may compliment you back. In addition, a compliment makes everyone feel good. Usually, a large smile comes over their face.

It's important, however, to make sure the compliment is genuine, and you really mean it. A compliment that is not genuine could be taken as sarcasm.

Don't Criticize or Blame
We all feel the urge occasionally to criticize someone. But it's a good idea to stop before you say anything and think about it. Remember that criticism hurts regardless of who it is directed at. Ask yourself: What good is the criticism going to do? Who will it help? Anyone? There are, indeed, cases where mild criticism might help, but they are rare.

Some of the things that criticism leads to are hurt feelings, anger, broken friendships, and fights. Indeed, there is only one of two things a person being criticized will do: He (or she) will retreat in shame and embarrassment and say little, or they will lash back at you in anger. Neither of these is in your best interest. So catch yourself when you feel an urge to criticize. Furthermore, if you criticize someone, you'll likely find that you end up feeling just as bad as the one you are criticizing.

Blaming someone is just as bad as criticizing. Many people feel frustrated when things don't go the way they want, and they immediately begin to blame someone. It's amazing, in fact, how many people blame their shortcomings on someone else. Many people blame their parents for their behavior; they blame them because they didn't finish school, or didn't go to university. Even criminals blame others for their behavior.

In most cases, however, there's only one person to blame for your shortcomings, and it's you. You have to hold yourself responsible for everything you do; it's up to you to overcome any shortcomings you may have. Your choices were made by you (in almost all cases); they were not forced on you, so you have to take responsibility for them. Don't blame others.

Do Something Nice for Someone, Just for the Fun of it
How often do you go out of your way to do something nice for someone? In the case of most people, it's not very often. But doing something nice for someone will give you a warm feeling that will last all day, and maybe longer. The important thing is not to expect anything in return; in fact, don't even expect a "thank you," even though you'll likely get it. You've already got your reward: a feeling of satisfaction. In particular, don't get angry or annoyed if you don't get anything back. This will destroy everything.

What kind of things can you do? Think of your spouse, children, friends, and neighbors. What do they need? Older people may need help with their yard work. Take food to needy neighbors. Volunteer time to charity. Give someone money without them knowing where it came from. Donate old toys to children.

Helping others can reduce stress and add to your happiness.

Mind Your Own Business
Sticking your nose in where it's not needed or belongs, can quickly backfire on you. In particular, don't try to tell people how to do things better (unless they ask for your advice). In many cases,  they'll resist your advice, even if it is good. This doesn't mean you shouldn't help people. You should. If someone is having a problem it's only common courtesy to help them. But if you see they are doing something the wrong way, don't make them look bad. And don't go around trying to solve everyone's problems.

Minding your own business also means not talking behind people's backs or gossiping. Some people can't wait to tell others about some "juicy gossip" even when they're not sure it's true. Refrain from this.