In this blog post, I’d like to share 7 ideas to become a better person in 2012. These are a few things you could do to improve your happiness, develop your potential and become a better person. Let’s get started.
- Cherish Your Spouse and Kids: If you are married and/or have children, don’t take them for granted. Cherish your immediate family and let them know how much you appreciate them. Spend quality and quantity time with the people you love. Make a conscious effort to improve your relationships. Never take them for granted.
- Volunteer: I think it’s important to volunteer. You could volunteer at an orphanage, at church, at a local civic group, a veteran’s home, a food bank, animal shelter or just about anything else. When you invest your time to volunteer, you experience a great feeling. There’s nothing greater than helping another human being. If you’re busy, just commit to an hour a week. You can always volunteer more as you get accustomed to it. When you give, you get!
- Read More: I once heard that the books you read and the people you hang out with will ultimately determine where you end up in five years from now. I think this advice is spot on. I believe that everyone should read 2-4 non-fiction books each month. You could read books about leadership, communication, influence, people skills, business, entrepreneurship, psychology, or anything that interests you. When you read, you will improve your vocabulary and learn new skills.
- Reflect More: Set aside an hour each week to reflect on the previous week. Write down what went well, what went wrong and what you could do differently next time. Give yourself constructive criticism so you can improve your skills and become a better person. This is one of my favorite things to do each week.
- Find a New Hobby: Hobbies are a great way to unwind. If you don’t already have a hobby, make a short list of 5-10 things that interest you. Pick one thing and spend 2-3 hours each week working on your hobby. Popular hobbies include quilting, running, reading, collecting, and traveling to new places.
- Watch less Television: Turn that idiot box off. No one ever gets paid to watch television. The television and news are filled with so much negative stuff. I also think television is a huge time waster. Most people spend 30 hours (or more) per week watching the idiot box. These same folks tell you they are busy and don’t have time for anything else. Turn the television off and spend time with your family, read more, volunteer more, or anything else on this list.
- Tithe: Make a commitment to tithe a portion of your income each month. It doesn’t have to be a large amount. You could start with $20 per month. Pick a cause that is important to you and start tithing on a regular basis. When you tithe, you naturally feel good about yourself. And you help someone else out in the process.
I’m sure there are some other things you can do, too. But these are my favorite 7 ways on how to become a better person in 2012 and beyond. What are your thoughts?