How to be a Better Person

Being a better person is not one of those goals you can ever accomplish and be done with. If you are still alive, it means you still can and should be a better person than you are right now.

That doesn't mean that you should be stressed out about it, or list it as another tedious task. Becoming a better person is a way of being, it is a way of life.

That Cheesy Wisdom
The Healthy Dose
An Important Story
The Essentials

That Cheesy Wisdom

Even true wisdom may sometimes sound cheesy, especially due to over- and misuse. With so many gurus and prophets out there, who can tell anymore what is real and what is not.

The spiritually hungry crowd is rather starving than simply hungry, and as a result, and with the best intentions, they sometimes cling to anything they encounter that resembles a ray of light.
That can be dangerous and it is not necessary.
It is not necessary because you have everything you need already within you.

The Healthy Dose

With spirituality, as with anything, it is important to find the golden middle (as even Buddha himself came to realize). Question everything and see what makes sense to you. You don't have to join a group in order to rediscover (or reinvent) yourself and become a better person.

All the advice that is out there - all of it - is there for you to take from it what can help you reach your goal. And the goal is to be a better person.
There is no time frame within which you have to reach this goal, but you do have to be consequent, without exceptions.
That's not as radical as it sounds. Being consequent in life is extremely important and will help you reach any goal, including this one.

An Important Story

This might well be the most important of "inspirational stories", especially at the beginning of your quest.

Garbage Truck Rule

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home , or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.'
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

It is something that you should remember any time you are tempted to consume and then forward someone else's garbage. Simply don't!

The Essentials

Being a better person and being happy is closely related. Here are everyday's essentials, kind of like a "Best of" list. Remember these things! Write them down if it helps.

Faith

Trust that everything happens for a reason. It always does. Sometimes you are lucky enough and get to find out why something happened a certain way, other times it won't be as obvious. The reason is there none the less.

Awareness

Try to be aware of the special moments, no matter how small or short they are. Recognize them, acknowledge them, be thankful for them, and you will have more such moments.

Selectiveness

Love the people who are good to you! Forget about the others..

Friendliness

Of all the characteristics you possess, your facial expression is one of the most important ones. Be sincere, be friendly and be kind.

Honor

The only thing you can give and still keep is your word. Never break a promise you have given.

Honesty

Don't lie to others, and more importantly, don't ever lie to, or try to cheat yourself.

Courage

If you are afraid you won't succeed, and hence lack the courage to start, you have already given up, and therefor lost.

Diligence

Time wasted can never be repossessed. Once you realize that your time on Earth is precious and sacred, you won't want to waste any of it ever again.