9 Tried and True Personal Improvement Traits That Work

The higher the level of training the higher the benefits.

You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making. ~Stephen Richards

Are you ready to STOP backing up, running away, or avoiding those unproductive attitudes and toxic behaviors that are corroding your life?

When I think about that question, sanity screams — “Of course, just point the way.” But like everything worthwhile in this life, it may be easier said than done?

As the title indicated, the higher the level of training the higher the benefits. We’ll talk more about this higher level of training later in the article.

So let's look at the rewards before we talk about the actual work we’ll have to do to acquire the 9 traits that are guaranteed to benefit us.

If you make the effort what might you gain in return

• Improve self-awareness by identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
• Improve self-confidence, self-image, and self-respect.
• Improve relationships.
• Improve goal setting, evaluation, and implementation.
• Improve motivation to take personal responsibility for your life and your desire for self-improvement.

What are the aims which are at the same time duties? They are perfecting ourselves, the happiness of others. ~Immanuel Kant

9 Personal Improvement Traits

Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kindness and Mildness

When kindness is displayed toward us we feel comfortable and cared for. It relieves our anxiety and allows us to interact with ease. Developing and displaying this same trait in ourselves will advance our relationship with others and improve communication with family, friends, and workmates.

How do we develop and display kindness? Practice thinking about others more than yourself. What can I do for them? How can I encourage them? How can I be of assistance to them?

A kind person does things for others with an unselfish motive, actively looks for ways to help others. You don’t have to move mountains but a few pebbles will often gain you the same amount of appreciation.

Observe the people around you each day. Think about their circumstances, problems, or achievements. Respond with an act of kindness. It might be a simple commendation, small gift, hug, recognition, or a helping hand with a task they are performing. Keep it simple and genuine.

Peacemaker and long-suffering

Notice, I didn’t say peace. Peace is something we enjoy, receive, and in some measure create. But being a peacemaker is altogether different.

The crucial point about peace is that it’s not an automatic thing we’re born with, quite the contrary. If you don’t agree with that statement, try removing something from the reach of an 18-month-old that they want. Then describe their reaction.

Being a peacemaker is a proactive pursuit. A peacemaker promotes peace, starting with their own attitudes. They can identify the need for peace and make a specific effort to fill that need.

Peacemakers control their speech, avoid prejudice and discrimination. Reasonableness is a key component of their personality. They strive to stay calm and approachable when under pressure.

Patience and faith

Certainly, we’ve all been in situations where we’ve put up with trying circumstances for various reasons. However, the real power of patience comes when we have a specific purpose fueling our patience.

That purpose may be to keep a bad situation from becoming worse. It may be that we are trying not to say or do something to harm our relationship with others. Patience with a purpose requires that we see beyond our own needs and consider the whole scope of the situation and those involved.

Another helpful trait that will help us maintain our patience is the quality of faith. When we keep a positive perspective by having faith in the good motives of others, we lay a foundation on which we can build and exercise patience.

Goodness

At it’s very basic, goodness is just what it says — being a good person. That can be hard to decipher since the values and standards of people differ greatly. But when we examine the very essence of what humanity considers good, we do find a core similarity of moral excellence and virtue.

For instance, it’s universally considered bad to lie, steal, cheat, or harm others by word or deed.

So goodness would be actions and attitudes that do the exact opposite. Living in such a way that we benefit others as well as ourselves.

Lessons learned

In the above topics, I’ve included some links to scientific research and other source material you might find interesting.

For me, though, the most interesting thing about the traits I’ve listed is that they were recommended in a list written about 2000 years ago. That list included Love and Joy, which makes a total of 9 traits of outstanding character.

The book from which the list is taken is believed by some to be the highest source of knowledge on human behavior. The book’s author also guarantees personal success — if his teachings are followed.

You decide…

The higher the level of training the higher the benefits.