BUILDING A POSITIVE PERSONALITY
Whenever we see a well dressed person, with a good attractive face, automatically this thought will come to us: what a personality he has! Why?
1. Accept Responsibility
Responsible behavior is to accept accountability. It represents maturity. Acceptance of responsibility is a reflection of our attitude and of the environment we operate in. Responsible persons do not ignore their duties. Responsibility involves thoughtful action.
2. Show Consideration
Show consideration, courtesy and politeness. Thoughtfulness shows a caring attitude.
3. Think Win – Win
Whatever may be the situation you have to think about your success.
4. Choose your Words Carefully
Words have magical powers. It can bring changes either positively or negatively. It reflects your attitude. Words can hurt feelings and destroy relationships. So think before speaking. Excessive talking does not mean communication. Talk less; say more.
5. Don’t Criticize and Complain
criticism may be positive or negative. Constructive criticism has a spirit of helpfulness rather than have a put-down. It offers solutions. Criticize the behavior not the person, because when we criticize the person, we hurt their self-esteem.
6. Smile and Be Kind
A smile costs nothing, but it creates much. It can give pleasure to others and help to reduce pain. It happens in a flash, and the memory of it may last forever. Cheerfulness flows from goodness. A smile can be fake or genuine. The key is to have a genuine one. A smiling face is always welcome. It improves your face value.
7. Positively Interpret other People’s Behavior
By starting with positive assumptions, we have a better chance of building a pleasing personality, resulting in good relationships.
8. Be a Good Listener
To have a good personality, you have to be a good listener. “An open ear is the only believable sign of an open heart”. Listening shows caring. If you show an attitude of listening, the person speaking will get motivated and will give you more ideas.
9. Be Enthusiastic
“Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm”. Enthusiasm and success go hand in hand, but enthusiasm comes first. It inspires confidence, raises morale, builds loyalty and is priceless. We can feel enthusiastic by the way a person talks, walks or shakes hands. Enthusiasm is a habit that one can acquire and practice. Positive enthusiasm can change our whole life.
10. Give Honest and Sincere Appreciation
Famous psychologist William James said, “One of the deepest desires of human beings is the desire to be appreciated. The feeling of being unwanted is hurtful”. Sincere appreciation is one of the greatest gifts one can give to another person. However it is easier to deal with honest rejection than insincere appreciation.
11. Accept the Mistake and Move on
When we make a mistake, accept it and move on. “When I am wrong, make me easy to change; and when I am right, make me easy to live with”. This is good philosophy to live by. We are not people who do right things every time. So whenever we make mistakes accept it and correct it. Mistakes are to be learned from. The greatest mistake a person can make is to repeat the mistake. Don’t assign blame and make excuses.
12. Discuss, but Don’t Argue
An argument is one thing we will never win. The best way to win an argument is to avoid it. Arguing is like fighting a losing battle. You win an argument, but lose a good job, customer, friend or relative. At the time of an argument we try to strengthen our points. Arguments result from inflated ego. A healthy discussion can throw light on the way.
13. Don’t Gossip
Gossiping and lying are closely related. A gossip listens in haste (hurry) and repeats at leisure. A gossip is more concerned about what he overhears than what he hears. Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves nothing unsaid. Gossip has no respect for justice. Remember, “Small people talk about other people, mediocre people talk about things, and great people talk about ideas”. You should aware, if you are a person who likes gossiping, that you are creating hate in the minds of people.
14. Turn your Promises into Commitments
A promise is a statement of intent. A commitment is a promise that is going to be kept no matter what. Commitment comes out of character and leads to conviction. Commitments say “I am predictable in the unpredictable future”.
15. Be Grateful but do not Expect Gratitude
Gratitude is a feeling. It improves our personality and builds character. It develops out of humility. It is a feeling of thankfulness towards others. It is conveyed through our attitude towards others and is reflected in our behavior.
16. Be Dependable and Practice Loyalty
Ability is important but dependability is crucial. If you know someone with all the ability in the world but if he is not dependable, do you want him as part of your team? No, not at all. “An ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of cleverness”.
17. Avoid Bearing Grudges
Don’t be a garbage collector. When a person refuses to forgive, he is locking the doors that some day he might need to open. When we hold grudges and harbor resentment, who are we hurting the most? Ourselves.
18. Practice Honesty, Integrity and Sincerity
Honesty inspires openness, reliability and frankness. It shows respect for one’s self and others. Honesty is in being, not in appearing to be. Honesty requires firmness and commitment. Be truthful to self and that will bring you sincerity. Before taking any action think about the same, and beware of half truths or misinterpretations of truths. It is possible to achieve the goals by having a sincere desire in mind. Said Thomas Carlyle, “Make your self an honest man and then you may be sure there is one rascal less in the world”.
19. Practice Humility
Confidence without humility is arrogance. Humility is the foundation of all virtues. It is a sign of greatness. Humility does not mean self-demeaning behavior that would amount to belittling oneself. Sincere humility attracts but false humility detracts.
20. Be Understanding and Caring
In relationships we all make mistakes and sometimes we are insensitive to the needs of others, especially those very close to us. All this leads to disappointment and resentment. The answer to handling disappointment understands.
21. Practice Courtesy on a Daily Basis
Courtesy is nothing more than consideration for others. A courteous person, who is not very sharp, will go further in life than a discourteous but a sharp person.
22. Develop a Sense of Humor
A sense of humor makes a person likable and attractive. Learn to laugh at yourself because it is the safest humor. Laughing at yourself gives you the energy to bounce back.
23. Don’t be Sarcastic and Put Others Down
Negative humor may include sarcasm, put-downs and hurtful remarks. When someone blushes with embarrassment; when someone carries away an ache; when something sacred is made to appear common; when someone’s weakness provides the laughter; when profanity is required to make it funny; when a child is brought to tears or when everyone can’t join in the laughter - it is a poor joke. To a sadist everything is funny, so long as it is happening to someone else. Humor can be valuable or dangerous, depending on whether you are laughing with someone or at someone.
24. To Have a Friend, Be a Friend
Friendship takes sacrifice. Building friendships and relationships takes sacrifice, loyalty and maturity. Sacrifice takes going out of one’s way and never happens by the way. Selfishness destroys friendships.
25. Show Empathy
The wrong we do to others and what we suffer are weighted differently. Empathy alone is a very important characteristic of a positive personality. People with empathy ask themselves this question: “How would I feel if someone treated me that way?”
BE A BETTER PERSON
Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong. Because some time in our lives we would have been all of these ourselves.
