by Jonn Angst

Created on: June 14, 2008

Perhaps the first step that should be taken when striving towards becoming a better person is determining individual strengths and weaknesses. Having this awareness will empower one with the ability to determine the aspects of themselves in which they hold the most confidence in, what they need to improve, and unfamiliar things, which if included in their arsenal of knowledge, might be deemed an improvement- in terms of individual betterment.

Experience dictates for us, that people generally are enhanced to admirable extents when they embed themselves in their own interests and actively and healthily pursue those interests. Therefore, it only makes sense that individuals try to improve themselves by incorporating their primary interests, while expanding their prospects for individual development. Similarly, having the openness to develop and pursue new interests would certainly seem to have a positive influence on one's self.

In incorporating primary interests, for instance, if social issues are a primary interest for someone but they exclude certain facets of that area of concentration, they might not only study particular social issues closely and take active participation in them, but they might also raise awareness for others. If raising awareness for others is not something they are already doing and if that might be something which would make the individual feel as though they are a better person by serving that function. It is important to sustain a balance between the personal conviction that we, as individuals, are honestly working towards individual improvement, and the ways in which others perceive us, and calculate our progress.

In developing and expanding new interests, if not already practiced, perhaps an effective way to become a better person is to earnestly help someone else in need. Even a simple thing like holding a door open or expressing a compliment can mean a lot to someone. More intense and serious measures of assistance are rewarding in varying ways; not only to the recipient of the assistance, but of the individual providing the assistance.

Regardless of the slue of self-help literature, professionals who are credited with assisting the self-improvement of others, and so on, it is the individual whom will ultimately revamp themselves as a better person. Participation and interchange outside of one's comfort zone is a surefire method to employ. The requirements to become a better person are reasonable and in reach: patience, compassion, and honesty.

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