Being a good person isn’t only about being good to yourself, but also treating others with respect, no matter how they look or what their financial status is. It is important not to judge a book by its cover and stay positive in negative situations, even though life will keep on testing you, and will try to break your spirit. Check out our 5 tips below to see what it really takes to become a better person.

Sharing is Caring
By sharing your happiness, you only get more of it back. Volunteering is a great way to help others, and at the same time, feel good about yourself. By volunteering at animal shelters, hospitals or orphanages you get the opportunity to brighten up not only someone’s day, but someone’s whole life. These people don’t need much to be happy. Success at work isn’t the only thing that can bring us joy. Real joy is using our voice to help others and raise awareness of a certain issue.

Read Better Books
If you want to be a better person, your job is to inspire others and motivate them to be the change they want to see in the world. You will get motivated and have more inspiration if you read motivational books that are a true wake-up call, instead of reading books that convey no message and don’t make you think about the decisions you’ve made so far. Questioning your life choices can sometimes lead to marvelous revelations about your future, and help you decide which path you want to take in life.

Listen Carefully
Don’t listen only to answer, but listen to hear. Your friend might be going through a rough time, and having a meaningful conversation might give them a new perspective on life. Nurture these relationships, and pay attention to what others are saying. Sometimes you’ll have to read between the lines to recognize someone’s cry for help. In most cases, people are embarrassed to directly ask for help, so offer it from time to time, without hesitation. It means nothing to you, but to someone else, it is a life-changing approach.

Get Necessary Rest
Even though your main goal is to be more helpful, don’t neglect your own needs and desires. Yes, you will be a better mother, a better father, a better employee or a better friend, but don’t lose your soul trying to save someone else’s. People who overwork themselves, or take on too much responsibility are tired and demoralized. If you’re experiencing any type of pain while sleeping or having trouble falling asleep, sleeping like a baby is a combination of the best pillow for neck and shoulder pain and a high-quality mattress. Feeling any type of discomfort and restlessness can have a negative effect on you and your relationships. So, invest in your bed and do something good for yourself. When you’re feeling relaxed and well-rested, it’s easier to share the feeling with others.

Take Care of Yourself and Others
Whether it is giving a compliment to yourself when you look in the mirror or getting a good night’s rest, it is essential to nurture your body and mind. The simplest advice would be to do the things that make you happy. For instance, if you are into hiking, invite a friend or two, catch up with them, be in nature and actually make someone else feel important. People tend to procrastinate when it comes to relationships, and don’t make time for friends anymore. Spending high-quality time with friends is another way to improve your life, as well as theirs. If you have enough time and finances, adopt a pet, and see how saving a small, innocent creature’s life can have such a major impact on your life.

It can be said that becoming a better person is an individual thing, but following just one of these tips can lead to a better life and a major change in behaviour. People look at you differently, once you start actually noticing them. Do you think it is easy to change? Did you manage to do it? Tell us all about it in the comment section below.

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Author, Freelance writer