by Julius Albert Custodio

Created on: March 22, 2009   Last Updated: April 21, 2009

To tell you honestly, there's no real secret in becoming a "better" person.

In reality, no matter how low we think of ourselves or how poorly our own society treats us, we are constantly improving day to day. Each individual in this world is significant and everyone has that shot to becoming better.

Eventhough some would say that people don't get equal opportunities, the improvement of oneself is not an exclusive right reserved only for the high and mighty. It is also important to know that even the smallest of our actions have invisible repercussions. This long thread which we carefully weave everyday may very well be the starting point in that path to betterment.

If you want to become better then you must avoid the pitfalls in that path and dodge the curveballs life throws at you. Sure, there will be times when you will fall or get hit, but don't let the harsh reality of life get you down. Try to be whimsical. Try looking at life as some sort of competition.

The only difference is, in this competition, the winner doesn't always take it all. As much as, the so-called losers, those underdogs of life, can still fight for their survival. If you can use that fact as a guide and live by that notion, then you're on your way to becoming a better person.

Another thing that you can do to become a better person is to hold on to your own sets of values.

Don't just rely on what society deems as acceptable, a person who knows what is wrong and what is right without having to rely with a set of rules, is a great person in my book. Of course, there are exceptions (like the law, for instance). But if a person can stick up to what he believes in, then that person is head and shoulders above the rest of the world.

To become better, one must always remain true to himself. Life is the biggest classroom, and each person has his own unique progress report.

The things that make you stand out as a person are your tools in that road to self-improvement. Try to highlight those good things within yourself, enough to make up for your shortcomings. Don't mind the people around you. They will be constantly prodding but it's your job to keep them at bay. See to it that you don't give in to the pressure. Remember that in the end, even if you fail, you're only as good as your old self. Don't judge yourself using someone else's standards.

Lastly, if you want to become better then be selfless. Your selfish goals may very well be your own undoing. As Albert Einstein aptly puts it: "If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."

If anyone out there can proudly say that they live their lives not just to tackle their own personal fears and hopes, then in my honest opinion, they are definitely better than the most powerful people in the land. For me, if an individual is selfless and innately good, then he or she deserves the finer things in life. You don't need to be labeled "better", because those traits alone would already make you the "best" person there is.

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