Guest Post by Peter Minkoff
We all think about our lives and our roles in them, we evaluate our actions and try to decide what kind of people we are. Are we good or bad? Are we making a positive impact on the world? The truth is that we are all capable of doing good things as well as doing bad things. What matters is that we try to be better. That we don’t give up. If you’re human you’ve made mistakes, but if you want to improve yourself and you strive to be better, there are some things you can change in your life that will help you reach that goal. Here are 10 life changes that will make you a better person
Learn as much as you can
There is much to learn in life and we should never stop learning. Learning new things makes us wiser and more conscious of our world. We broaden our horizons with every new thing we learn. It changes our perspective and makes us kinder to the people around us.
Travel as far as you can
Another great way of broadening our horizons is to travel. Traveling is a perfect way to get to know new cultures and new people. Through those experiences, we are also getting to know ourselves. We are able to see our strengths and weaknesses and improve upon them.
Say “yes”
Too often we choose to stay safely in our comfort zone and we say “no” and miss out on a chance to experience something new and exciting. We shouldn’t let our habits keep us from discovering something we might end up enjoying. So, say “yes” next time a friend invites you to do something you might otherwise never have tried. Who knows, you might have a blast.
But also know when to say “no”
We don’t want to disappoint a loved one. We don’t want to admit we can’t do something. So we end up saying “yes” when we really shouldn’t have. We promise something we can’t do and we end up disappointing someone anyway. Only this way, we also disappoint ourselves. It’s okay to say “no” and we should be confident to stand our ground when we need to.
Put yourself first
Looking after our needs and wants can seem selfish at times. But when we put pressure on ourselves to be there for others we can end up forgetting our own needs. We start feeling stressed and resentful and we take it out on others as much as we do on ourselves. So sometimes, putting ourselves first can be the best thing we can do for others.
Accept others the way they are
We are all just human. We all make mistakes and we’re not perfect. Accept that and you will instantly improve your relationships with others. You will be able to better understand people and they will notice. It will affect your life in incredible ways and make you a better person.
Work on your romantic relationships
Love is a big part of life. While finding that special someone isn’t easy, we shouldn’t give up on it. One of the most common dating mistakes people make is settling for less. Don’t be one of the people making it. Re-evaluate your relationships, figure out what you want, and go for it!
Smile more often
Smiling is good for everyone, it’s good for you and it’s good for the people around you. Smiling will make you feel better and you will leave a better impression on others. People will even find you more attractive. A bonus benefit of smiling is that you are making the people you smile at happier as well.
Disconnect
Next time you have drinks or dinner with someone, leave your phone out of sight. Phones can distract us from what really matters, our loved ones. Once you focus on the people you are with you will be able to have more meaningful connections and just because you focused on the present moment.
Have a good night’s sleep
One way to make sure we are ready to cope with whatever life throws our way is to make sure we face it well rested. A good night sleep will improve our mood and our behavior. When we are in a good mood we are also kinder to others and all-around better. Sleep rejuvenates you in mind and spirit to make you a better person.
More on this blog: Inspiring Words of Wisdom that Help You Look at Life From a Different Perspective
Peter is a health and lifestyle writer at Different Reasons magazine. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.
