We've all heard the line "It literally costs $0 to be a good person." So why are there so many people that still refuse to be a nice, contributing member of society? In this day and age, it's not uncommon for a random act of kindness to go unnoticed or unappreciated. Why are we so full of pride that it's literally impossible to appreciate someone's genuineness or thoughtfulness? I whole heartedly believe if we all sucked it up and started thinking about how our actions affect other people the world would be a happier and mentally healthier place.
Instead of being an uptight, disrespectful, ill-mannered person, here is a short list of other traits you can adopt to replace the negative ones:
1. Compassionate
when was the last time you asked someone how their day was or how a situation was going in their life and genuinely wanted to hear the answer? It takes about 4 seconds of effort to spout off the words "hey, how are you doing?" to someone and in those 4 second you'll probably make them feel cared about and important. Start doing this more, you're not the only person with feelings on this planet.
2. Optimistic
Instead of having the attitude of "woe is me" or just being negative in general, start looking at all of the good things you have in life. I promise there are about 10 things I could think about that I am thankful for right now that can put a smile on my face. Optimism is key to the start of a day. Wake up and tell yourself that today is going to be a good day. You'll feel refreshed and energized knowing that your attitude will determine the course of your mood for the day.
3. Reliability
I can't think of a better compliment to receive than for someone to say that they know they can come to you with any situation. Take pride in being the person that is always willing to lend a hand and will never cancel set plans... ever.
4. Humble
This one is so important. There is no personality trait more attractive than a person who is modest. Be proud of yourself, but do not over broadcast your accomplishments. It is important to be proud of your accomplishments and who you are, but do not make that the only topic of conversation.
5. Happy
of all, this may be the most important. I know it takes more than just saying "be happy" to someone for them to change their mood. Myself, along with a lot of the people I know struggle to fight our own internal battles every day. It's hard to just "be happy" and being happy isn't always possible. This is ok. It is also ok to be wanting to take steps to be a happier person. It won't happen overnight, but true happiness is attainable. Find things that bring you pure joy and don't let them go.
There it is. Five traits to adopt that don't include negativity or ill-mannered behavior. Life is way too short to not try to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. Take into consideration these traits while you're on the track to becoming a better you.
