Discussions
How to improve yourself?
Posted by Rainhat • 9/06/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: growth, philosophy, self-improvement
I like learning new things. I think it keeps my brain in shape. I also try to be more patient, humble and accepting. To accomplish this, I try to see things from all sides before I make up my mind and act on them. Things are not always what they seem, and if I can remember this and recognize things for what they are, I think I will be less likely to jump to conclusions and make mistakes. I think this will eventually bring me more peace of mind.
What do you do to improve yourself, and how? Do you think it's important? Why? Any good tips on how to grow and become a better person?
User Comments
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Here in America, being free means clinging to one's pre-concieved notions an prejudices-
Well, that's not very humanitarian...
I guess you're free since you're free to keep your prejudices, but don't the prejudices affect someone else's freedom? -
I was satirizing
you don't quite get me yet, do you? -
*ahem* look, an elephant! *whistles...*
Yeah. I think you're a bit more subtle than what I'm used to. I'm gonna read your posts three times before I reply from now on...
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haha. That's ok. It may come out more on my political board discussions. If you want a look at some ugly prejudice and preconcieved notions check that discussion board out some time : /
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Hehe! I believe you...
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Take life easy, live simply and mind my own business.-
Sounds like good advice.
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Without self-knowledge there cannot be self-improvement of mind. I think self-knowledge is the key to living successfully.
Try to attain a mind towards living simply, independently, objectively and reasonably, and that should go a long way to improving your life and dealing with whatever issues arise.
I have written many a post on the subject on my blog and will be posting some more in-depth tips in the near future *hint* *hint* -
Toughest thing I had to learn was to not think with my emotions... that's not what emotions are for.
If you stop & think about it, how much personal distress--indeed, world chaos--is caused by thinking with emotions? You can add to this list, but its consequences range from personal to global and include suicides, addictions, war. -
Hi guys! I can help you to add some ideas in improving yourself. Visit my blog. wwwprophecies.blogspot.com. My blog focus more on personality development/growth. Also, please, follow my blog. Thanks and wishing everyone a best journey here!-
Are you promoting your blog?
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Avoid having people around you that bring you down. People who can't succeed and hate to see you succeed.-
Yeah, I know the type. It's a very selfish attitude. There was a guy like that in my class back in school, and every time I scored well on a test, he started questioning my grade and telling people I didn't deserve it. Quite annoying.
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What do you do to improve yourself, and how? I do community service. Do you think it's important? yes
Why? The first time a child understands math it's rewarding, the first story from an elderly person who has been there teaches so much, and the life long skills that you acquire are so valuable. -
I am quite short tempered and impatient person and I am aware of my flaws. I've hurt those closest to me because of my temper. I try to sort that flaw through meditation and breathing exercises.-
Have you noticed any effects from the meditation and breathing exercises so far? Is it working?
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Oh yes definately. The first step to tackling a flaw is being aware of it and understanding the cause and effect. Meditation has helped me to go into myself, if you understand what I mean and confront issues from childhood, which I believe are the cause of my flaw. The breathing exercise helps a lot when i feel my temper rising. I would detached myself from a certain situation, start breathing deeply through my nose and out my mouth, just like releasing bad energy. I try to envision the bad energy from my body being released into the air. It calms me down and makes me think twice before I open my mouth to say something hurtful.
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Cool! Glad to hear it's working.
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You could go the long route and train to be a therapist, that works quite well -
Weeeell, there is that... But it seems a tad unfair, you're not giving the madness a sportin' chance.
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I wouldn't say that lol
It is like being in intense therapy for three years, distressing at times but ultimately worth it.
Just wanting to be a better person is always a nice place to start. I think you have the creativity side down pretty well. Like others have suggested, would you do volunteer work? -
Thanks!
If it was for a cause I believe in, I wouldn't mind volunteering.
Psychology is a fascinating subject, but it always seemed to me like being a therapist would be a tremendously demanding kind of job, like you would need to be more stable than Mt. Everest to be able to listen to people talking about difficulties all the time and not get depressed yourself. Are you done with your studies? Did you do any counseling yet? How is it? -
Listening to the difficulties and not getting depressed yourself is all in the training, that is why personal development is so important for everyone including the therapist.
Not quite done yet with studies and I will be out on placement very soon, the counselling I have done with willing guniea pigs has been very rewarding for both parties
I am a bit behind at the moment because of my mum's health, so it wouldn't be right for me to start with new clients at the moment. -
Interesting. It sounds a bit like the best kind of therapy would be to become a therapist, like you said. That kind of unshakable stability would be quite handy even outside counseling.
Hope your mum's health improves! And good luck with the studies! -
Well people go to therapy for all sorts of reason, same goes for people training to be therapists.
I suppose it depends on what peace of mind you would like and why there is a feeling of unrest in the first place (if unrest is the right word?), that is where I would start
Unshakable stability is just something that I have tried to build up over the years, mainly thanks to my mother and her attitude to her ill health. After 5 years of trying to save her leg, they have finally decided that it can't be saved, so they are going to amputate it and part of her pelvic area too. She is fine with it and has quite an amazing attitude, so that is an inspiration to me -
Well, personally I think it would be nicer if everyone would just get along, but I have a feeling that's not going to happen anytime soon. I guess I'll just have to deal...
I'm really sorry to hear about your mum's leg. That kind of thing could make anyone devastated, to say the least! She sounds like a pretty impressive person. -
That would be nice indeed, but I think you might be right. I don't think it will be happening any time soon. Do you mean people in the immediate circle sense or in the whole world kind of sense?
Yep the mum is special, I am more devastated than her at the moment, but if she can deal with it, then so can I (eventually). Thanks for the nice words -
I mean more in the whole world kind of sense. For all the talk about progress, some things just don't seem to change much.
You're welcome.
She does set quite the precedent to live up to, though. If she can be fine with a thing like that and manage to keep her spirits high, it suddenly feels rather silly to whine about smaller stuff... -
Yep I agree on that, so I like to see what I can do to make the world around me better
Yes it does seem ridiculous at times to moan about the small stuff, but then I am only human and would be kidding myself if I said I was fine about everything, just because she is. Also she doesn't expect anyone to react in a certain way and when you visit her in hospital the only thing she wants to know is how everyone else is. -
I like your attitude.
Remembering that we're all human is surprisingly hard sometimes. It's easy to demand too much from oneself or from others, I certainly expect too much sometimes.
Your mum sounds like a strong person. But perhaps she asks about everyone else to keep her mind off her own condition? Obviously I have no clue, never having met her, but I think that's what I would be doing. Then again, it's hard to even imagine being in that situation. -
I think a healthy dose of realising that life is just shit sometimes, is good for me.
Latest favourite quote: "shit happens, not magic"
It is definitely a case of give yourself a break, because you are the only one that can sometimes. I am not a fan of The Secret/Law of attraction type thing and don't want to block out all the negative things that happen, so the rough goes with the smooth, even if it is awful sometimes.
The mum has been in/out of hospital for the past 20 years and I have asked her how she copes. She just says she has a got a lovely family, husband, kids, grandchildren and friends, so that is good enough for her. The one thing she feels able to do, is listen and be there for us whenever we need someone to talk to.
She has a wicked sense of humour too and wants me to do some one legged doodles for her hospital room. -
Makes sense.
One-legged doodles? Haha! That's awesome! What a great attitude!
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Drama and role play works for me - how about you?-
Never tried that. I like reading inspirational books. Tao te ching is a good one, full of clever ideas.
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Reading is reading .. and practice is practice.. be someone else - practice being different, practice being better, visualize and enact someone else and see a better you within you
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What I meant was that I like reading books and then applying the knowledge I find in them to my own life, not only reading.
So in a way it's not too different from role playing. But rather than acting out a role that is better than myself, you simply try to remember the things you read and use them in everyday life. -
Speaking out loud forms more connections in your brain and doing it on a regular and sustained basis will accelerate the changes
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@ RainHat
Yeah, I know the type. It's a very selfish attitude. There was a guy like that in my class back in school, and every time I scored well on a test, he started questioning my grade and telling people I didn't deserve it. Quite annoying.
Having someone passing through is one thing, but having a fixture in your life is rough. Like a brother or a parent, or a husband etc. Hard to get rid of them, so you have to learn how to deal with them and still thrive. -
Seeing as God was in a particularly good mood when he made me, I find it hard to believe that you can actually improve on perfection?
*May contain slight element of sarcasm*-
lol
Well, even the biggest diamond can be polished.
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I basically do a bit every day no matter how small. Tiny drops of water makes a large ocean... -
Buy upgrades and level up.-
Did you hear that the level 3 strength upgrade is going on sale? -
I'll have to sell some precious items so I can buy it.
That, or go into the wild and slay wild beasts that happen to carry money with them. -
You can probably afford it by killing 1,000,000 boars.
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Meeting people who are better thinkers than me I think improves my mind. That's why i like making younger friends. i have a friend who is also a good blogger and she is only 16 and we live in the same place. So we get to hang out and she tells me about stuff like school, new music and boys.-
I agree! Meeting new people is a good way to get to know new things in interests you share or in other interests.
I also like to read a lot, for example drawing techniques. That way I keep improving myself. -
That's why being in BC is also a good way in exercising one's mental and emotional faculties
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Definitely agree about the drawing techniques, it was someone that use to be on BC all the time that got me seriously into doodling and recommended some great books to buy.
Now there is TJ to learn from -
Haha I couldn't agree more ^_^!
Haha thanks Claire Oh if you have some good books! Please do tell! -
How vain TJ! lol
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whahah noo I edited my post
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Oh that looks cool! Thanks Claire !
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If you have any let me know
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Will do! I'll have a look at what I have ^_^
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Cool
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Learn, learn and learn ! You can be better, better and better, but never be the best of you -
You could make yourself worse then make yourself back to the way you were. It will look like you made your self better! -
lol! cheating!
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No one said self improvement had to be real! Its an illusion
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wp
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Read luisayllon82's comment.(the same comment as my deleted comment)
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Improvement is overrated. We are all going to die anyways
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says the devil -
I need more souls... Improving yourself usually means you go away from my teachings.
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No we are not going to die. Dying is fiction.
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or get closer to said teachings...
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cmf- Blasphemy!
CA- Well... I guess some people are more fun/better when they practice my teachings... -
more fun is always better
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db don't you love it? if we aren't going to die then more chances of enjoying your 'teachings'.Ok I better say 'they" because perhaps you don't want my participation there lol. Whatever you have in mind.
CA : You said so...more fun is better -
Yes, always better.
cmf- The only reason I exist to take souls away from that a$$hole upstairs. If you can't die, then I have no reason to exist. -
Appropriate phrase for DB minions
Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial. -
carpitt- last time I checked, you sold your soul for a cup of tea and biscuits.
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Did I? I could of, it does sound plausible.
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Yes, you did.
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Crumpets actually
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When was this?
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what is the difference between an English Muffin and a Crumpet?
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:O
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This was May 25th, 1999, and again February 3rd, 2007.
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Keep laughing DB. I burned you on the "math" thread
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I am sure i would be of great inconvenience in your kingdom sir because i would be playing this the whole day
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDwfBx2MzYc&feature=PlayList&p=A9EED0FE3B95D92B&ind... -
Agi- I see...
cmf- That could be of use... -
To drive the good spirits away?
more:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAMT5YAsyaY&feature=related
by the way this is from Brittany, a Celtic province of France. -
To punish those around me who I find annoying
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Hmmmm. I am not quite sure. I am already the New and Improved Super Deluxe Edition. -
Watching Dave Ramsey Show (airs on FOxNews Cable 7 or 8 & again @ 11 or midnight daily)
He teaches people to "Live Debt Free!"
Stop buying what you don't need, with money you don't have, to try to impress people you probably don't even like," is one of his common sense sayings. I have fallen for this wonderful man. He helps millions everyday.
In private, I light my tea candles (small) and I meditate upon that which I am thankful, for that I hope for others and for those matters I see for my future.
I create all day long, in thought, word and deed.
I try to be uplifting most of the time and love to give encouragement to others.
I have been reading Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, "Excuses Begone."
These things I do and these two men have contributed more to my peace of mind since June 2009 than I would have ever hoped. Again, I am thankful. And I am thankful for all of you, too.-
Makes sense.
It's very easy to make excuses, and to use those excuses as excuses to not get things done. I used to do that. I would talk about not being able to do something, and someone would give me a suggestion, and I would make up a rational and perfectly logical explanation for why that wouldn't work, instead of just trying it. The excuses made perfect sense in my head, but had I just tried actually doing it instead, it probably would have worked 90% of the time. I was literally thinking myself into inaction.
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Ok, I quit smoking after more than 35 years of it 3 months ago today.
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That explains the cute face under the red hat
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That is such an accomplishment. Oct. 11th will be 13 years since I quit, for the eighth time.
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Oh my goodness, now my face is red, too. But thanks! :-)
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Hmmm,I help people. It really helps me more than them-
Yeah. This is true for me also. I find myself in the constant role of caregiver. My favorite is gift giving and the joy I receive from giving and sharing.
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I take the good and the bad and learn from both. I know I am quick to make decisions and at times I need to take a step back and view it with a different perspective. It's great to learn new things, meet new people, and above all respect the differences each of us have rather than be quick to judge. We do not have the same life experiences, education, looks, nor act alike. That's the beauty of this world, many differences in cultures, personalities, and habits that we need to embrace. If we do not gain knowledge through books, trips, and each other we are wasting our time.-
I used to be quick to judge. I am super fast at sizing up people, places and things. But just as you stated, I decided to be prudent by allowing myself the rudimentary assessing in place of judging and to temper voicing my decision process until I had waited to make sure I was right in my thinking. While I am usually correct, there have been those odd times someone has proven my first assessment as untrue. So I am in agreement to not judge as I did before.
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I have improved my thoughts. Sometimes my thoughts would drive me crazy with the what if's, and could've done, should've said... etc.
Being a creative person in the natural. I can easily create scenarios in my mind, that never happened and never will, yet in my thoughts they were as real as IRL..
I feel that when you catch yourself thinking negatively... just tell yourself to stop... and purposely dwell on better things. Not always easy, especially after you have messed up, had a bad day, or someone has offended you in some way. But it can be done! And it can change an attitude too!-
Trustworthy advice.
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