With all the hate and violence that I have been hearing about recently, it makes me sad that the world is so cruel and dark. Then when I see stories of redemption or of good people doing good things for people in not so good situations, I am reminded that the world is in fact a good place with a small portion of bad people. I think there are times where we all forget ourselves and what it means to be a good person. So if you feel that you may have went astray on the path to goodness, here are some steps to bring you back.

1. Be kind to everyone

While for some people this might be an easy step to take for others it is really hard. When we have a lot going on in our own lives like work, bills, family, and health, it can be hard to remain positive and be kind. Kindness is contagious though, and if you do an act of kindness for someone then not only will you feel good about yourself, but that person is now more motivated to be kind to someone else. Always strive to do at least five kind things throughout the day and remember, we all share in the stresses of life.

2. See the goodness in others

There is always good you can find in other people, no matter who they are. While you might not agree with their beliefs, culture or opinions, there is still good you can see in them and as people, we are not inherently bad but we become bad when we are mistreated or when we are guided in the wrong direction. This goes with the previous step of treat everyone with kindness.

3. Be helpful

This also goes along with being kind but so many people forget that there are people less fortunate than ourselves who need help while we continue one in our busy, hectic lives. While there are only so many things we can do or afford to do to help others, even the little things like helping someone fix something or picking up something they my have dropped can make someone's day so much better. People often don't realize or forget the power we have to change someone's whole day with just a small act of kindness and helpfulness.

4. Be loving

Another thing we often take for granted of or forget when we find ourselves angry or upset is to be loving not only to the people we care about, but to everyone and the world. When people feel loved by others it makes them feel better about themselves, and scientifically our brain releases dopamine and serotonin which are both chemicals that make us feel happy and excited. People make mistakes and sometimes people do things that make us upset, but if you know that they care about you and have your best interest at heart then we have to remember to be loving and never take our frustration out on someone else.

5. Be loving and kind to ourselves

This is the most important step in becoming a better person, because if you are not kind and loving to yourself, then you cannot be kind and loving towards others. Do not beat yourself up over your flaws or situations you can't control. You are enough and you will always be enough. You are beautiful, no one notices that pimple or that your teeth are slightly crooked. Do not blame yourself if others do not treat you fairly, stand up for yourself and your beliefs. If someone can't see you for who you are, than that is there lost and they don't deserve your attention.