You can also become more honest by acting sincere. Don’t feel that you always have to act a certain way. Give honest reactions. For example, you can say to your partner, “I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive earlier. I think it was because I just miss you when you’re at work. "
Meditation is also a great way to gain self-awareness. You can learn to meditate by downloading an app, taking a class, or reading a book on meditation. You can also just sit quietly and see where your thoughts take you!
Making your bed daily is a great habit to commit to. It will help you develop discipline, which you can then use in other parts of your life.
Making your bed daily is a great habit to commit to. It will help you develop discipline, which you can then use in other parts of your life.
Join a cause that fits with your values. Think about how your decisions fall in line with your beliefs. Change habits that are out of line with your beliefs. Be honest.
Work with the person you harmed to come up with a solution. Consider ways that you could balance the situation. If you make a mistake or do harm to someone else, admit your mistake and make it right. You could say, “I’m sorry that I took credit for your idea. I’m going to tell everyone that you’re the one who thought of it. "
For example, maybe you’ve dreamed of starting your own photography business. It probably doesn’t make sense to suddenly quit your job and depend on a brand new business. A better strategy would be to start small. Try booking photography gigs on the weekend. As your business develops, you could think more seriously about pursuing your passion full time.
You can also ask questions and listen carefully. Start with, “Mary, I’d love to help you understand. What points are unclear?” Then listen to Mary’s response and try a new approach. [6] X Research source
Your best friend might be a good choice for this exercise. You could say, “Tom, I’m really looking for ways to be a stronger person. What do you think are some strengths and weaknesses of my character?” Accept their feedback with gratitude, and take steps to implement some of the recommended changes.
You can also take this further and actually experience what the other person is dealing with. For example, maybe your partner is frustrated because they do all of the cooking. Try taking over dinner duty for the week so that you can understand why they feel stress.
Take note of your prejudices. When you find yourself making assumptions, make a mental note. Being aware of bias is the first part in addressing it. Next time you have these thoughts, work to actively change your mindset. Instead of thinking, “That person must not be smart,” think, “Wow, they managed to get a good job despite not have a college degree. That’s pretty impressive. ”
You can also try keeping a gratitude journal where you write down things that you are grateful for. You could make notes throughout the day or devote 10 minutes each evening to journaling. You could write, “Today I was given an opportunity to volunteer at the animal shelter. I’m grateful that I was able to do something constructive on this Saturday morning. ”
For example, you could say to a co-worker, “Thank you for landing that new client. An increase in business is good for all of us. ” You can make your comments specific. You could try, “I really appreciate that you brought me some chicken soup when I was sick. You’re really thoughtful. ”
Maybe you are on the music committee at your church. If you feel strongly that a piece of music should be used in an upcoming service, speak up and make your point clearly. At work, try to participate more in meetings. People will be responsive if you state your ideas clearly and confidently.
If you generally set the agenda for the weekend, ask your partner if there are some specific things that they would like to do. It’s great to actively participate in class discussions. But you’ll learn something by listening to others, too.
You could apply this at work. Say to your boss, “I’d love to learn more about the accounting side of our operation. Could I sit in on your meeting this afternoon?”[14] X Research source
For example, maybe you set a goal of learning to speak Spanish. Identify the best way to make that happen and get to work. You could find a class to take at a community college or look for an online course. You could also purchase a product like Rosetta Stone. Make a schedule for how you will spend your time. Track your progress. Working towards clear goals can help you develop discipline, which is part of developing strength of character.
Instead of saying to your partner, “I need more help around the house!” try, “It would be great if you could be in charge of the laundry and walking the dog from now on. "
Point out people’s strengths and help them build upon them. You could say, “You really have a talent for making presentations. Would you like to speak on behalf of the group?” Focus on the success of the team instead of just yourself. Approach leadership as a “we” instead of a “me. "
For example, say you are managing a team at work and one of your key players resigns without notice. Instead of getting angry, focus on the situation. You’ll probably need to redistribute the work. Call a team meeting, explain the situation, and ask for ideas. Then you can reassign the work and keep moving forward.
