How to Be a Better Person Day by Day

Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.
Emile Coue

Being a better person is a process. No matter how good someone is, he can’t be perfect overnight. So the important thing is that you grow every day. Make growing a habit and you will see significant progress when you look back.

Here are several things you should do to be a better person day by day:

1. Take responsibility

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
Carol Burnett

Before anything else, you should realize that the one who is responsible for your life is you. Don’t blame other people or external condition for how you live your life. No matter how bad the situation might be, it’s you who decide how to respond to it. No matter what happens to you, it’s you who decide how it affects you.

2. Choose to grow

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.
George Eliot

After taking the responsibility for your life, the next thing you should do is deciding that you want to grow. Choose to grow rather than staying where you are. Choose to be a better person every day.

3. Make room for growth

If the shoe fits, you’re not allowing for growth.
Robert N. Coons

How can you grow if there is no room for it? What I mean is not physical room, of course. Instead, you should make room for growth in your mind. Believe in yourself that you can grow. Believe that you can make the changes you want. Don’t limit yourself and aim to be the best that you can be.

4. Don’t expect instant results

While you should make room for growth, you should also have realistic expectations. If you expect too much, you might get disappointed and discouraged. It takes time to grow so don’t lose heart if you still couldn’t become the person you want to be. Remember what Moliere said:

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.

5. Extract lessons from your experiences

Extracting lessons from your experiences is essential for your personal growth. Those who do will outgrow those who don’t. So make every experience a learning opportunity. Open your eyes and grab every possible lesson.

6. Keep a journal

Whatever lesson you learn, write it down in a journal. Keeping a journal can save you a lot of time because you don’t have to repeat the same mistakes again and again.

7. Build positive habits

Doing small things consistently can make a big difference over time. Choose a simple activity that helps you grow and do it every day. For example, you may choose to read for half an hour every day. Or you may allocate time to pray or meditate every day. The important thing is that you do it consistently.

8. Face your fear

Your fear limits your growth. Because of that you need to identify, face, and conquer your fear. It’s not easy to do, but as Anais Nin said:

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.

9. Have quality input

Your input determines your output. That’s why you need to feed your mind with positive and uplifting thoughts every day. Listen to motivational audio and video programs. Read inspiring books. Read quotes by great people.

10. Be around positive people

The people around you have great influence on you. They can make or break your life. I’m lucky to have a lot of positive people around me that encourage me to grow. They act as a source of energy and inspiration for me.

11. Find role models

It’s much easier to achieve something if you have role models that become examples for you. Instead of having a lot of abstract ideas of what you want to be, you have concrete examples in front of you. So find people with positive traits you admire and let them inspire you.

12. Find mentors

Mentors are even more important than role models. You usually don’t have personal relationships with your role models, but you do have personal relationships with your mentors. A mentor is someone who can guide you through the walk of life. Mentors can help you grow much faster because you don’t need to repeat the mistakes they have made. No longer do you need to find the right path yourself. No longer do you need to find truth the hard way.

Photo by ewen and donabel

30 Comments

  1. What a great morning read. I always look forward to the posts. I would like to say that in line two (choose to grow) You are where you are at because you choose to be there was told to me by an old teacher. The second part is like you said choose be be different. Like Yoda said “there is no try ,only do”
    On (Don’t expect instant results) Mark Victor Hansen who wrote the book series Chicken Soup for the Soul took two years to hit it big. He said he did five things a day to move towards his goal and now has sold over 500 million dollars in books.
    On (Face your fear) one needs to remember that on the other side of fear, is freedom. I don’t know where the quote came from but I love it. Thanks again for the words of inspiration in a time when all need it.

  2. This is great advice. I would also stress the importance of living life day-to-day. Begin every day with the mindset that “today is a good day”. Believe that you will accomplish your dreams, and you have never been closer to accomplishing those dreams until today. If you begin the day with the right mindset every day, you will achieve great things. As you plant the seed to future success, the words you speak will reflect the prosperity consciousness you posses.

  3. Making a conscious decision to say I can, will cause personal growth. Not allowing your fear to take control of your life. Fear can only hold one back from discovering your full potential. Let go of fear and pursue a worthy cause.

  4. I most liked, from this post, doing small things consistently every day, seeking quality inputs, keeping a journal, and learning from mentors. Thanks for showing us that great journeys begin with daily steps.

  5. Your forgot about living in the moment and enjoying it. I mean really enjoying it. Every damn moment. That my friend is the first rule you really need. The rest is just cake.

  6. Nice post!

    I totally agree. Anything of value takes time to build. And small steps every day is the best way to do that.

    I like the idea of taking a lesson from every experience. That is a valuable practice.

  7. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone. Your comments enrich me and give me deeper understanding on this topic.

  8. akomolede raphael
    akomolede raphael

    This is inspiring. One should not be limited by fear. Even you should not be limited by your success. It should be noted that
    success is a journey and not a destination.
    Thank you keep it up

  9. These are all important points, although I am particularly aware of points 10, 11 and 12. The effect of being around negative people is so very draining. It is massively important to protect oneself from negativity and to surround yourself with people who you can look up to and learn from.
    Really enjoyed this article; it gives a nice positive boost to the day. Thankyou.

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  12. Its amazing to see so many of us read this and benefit from this site.

  13. liked the advices a lot

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  15. that so cool i like…. how to be a good person..

  16. Great post, thanks for the inspiration.
    I was looking for something thorough and uplifting and here it is!

  17. im so glad to read wat everybody posted dis has given me the oppurtunity to be a better and a stronger person…im so uplifted and happy to read dis i now learn from my mistakes

  18. What do you do if your Role Model is longer around??

  19. as i knew before that everyday we have to be a better person. Donald Latumahina, thanks for your article. It seems music to my ears. let’s be a better day by day….

  20. Thank you from inner core of heart …

  21. I like these but there is a few things that u can’t forget like: never give up, listen to the critics they only make u better, avoid negative opions about yourself and around you, and don’t complain people have it worse then you. not saying you haven’t had it bad but there is worse.

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  23. Good Day! I just wanted to ask a question of my own. Last year I decided to change my perspective on life simply by trying to enjoy certain things which intersected my path in life. In attempting to become a person I tried looking at bad situations differently as I contemplated the benefits rather than the bad outcomes. In doing this I woke up daily with a boastful attitude for another day in life, but it seemed that the more I wanted this change in me to flourish in order to make me a better person, the less respect from others I was beginning to get. I have obtained anger and stress from the times I refused to emotionally or physically express them, and now, a year later I am beginning to feel to worse in me as these emotional pains haunt me through day and night. When I wake up I feel contempt at what I see or whoever I hear in the kitchen. When no one is around I throw things and punch furniture that is on my way, and it is not until the night when everyone is asleep and everything is dark that I actually feel bad for these feelings of sorrow and actions of hatred which I have never experienced, only just recently. I don’t know if this attempt to better my life has helped me and I am coming to think that maybe not caring anymore will make matters better, I only wanted to change for the best and this side effect has changed me for the worse and this has led me to hate myself and feel left out. I wanted to gain suggestions as for what I should do from here on; I am currently struggling mentally as my loved ones remain unaware. I don’t want to change being the good person I have tried to be. I only want to know if this is a beginning stage of disruption towards becoming a better being, or in other words, is this normal, given my nature? If anyone can give advice as to what I should try to perfect, that would be great since obviously going through my routine has only been disastrous. Thanks to those who consider this.

  24. Please don’t hate yourself…. By reading your post I can already tell what an amaing person you truly are don’t question that. If you are struggling let your loved ones know as they can help you and you can benefit from a closer relationship with them. Good luck buddy 🙂 be strong

  25. Thanks so much for this post. I always think it was best to write down my thoughts and changes to be made, that way it registers in my mind. I’m still trying to figure out how to stick to my rules though, or a better way to perceive it so I can stick to it.

  26. Im so glade im around positive people its so much fun

  27. geraldine velarde
    geraldine velarde

    I really appreciate those things you’ve posted, it makes my life more interesting to show up what I want to be and to become a better man.

    • mahesh Appala, Edlapally.
      mahesh Appala, Edlapally.

      i really really inspired from your advises.These are very true. i got correct information. now i am going to be grow myself. Thanking you a lot.

  28. Scarlet Gandola
    Scarlet Gandola

    thank you so much for posting uplifting messages such as this. I go through life feeling confused and sometimes disappointed. I find strength in others knowing that I am not alone in my battle. 🙂

  29. thanx it helped me alot

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