How To Be A Good Person And Why It Matters

Have you ever wondered why people make the choices they do? What makes a person a good person? Should we strive to be good, and if so, why?

If you asked twenty people what it means to be a good person, chances are you would get twenty different answers. What individuals perceive to be good character traits vary depending on several factors. Religion, ethnic background and family dynamics all play a part in forming one's personal opinions and often dictate how they view others.

Generally speaking, most people share a desire to be good. However, without knowing what makes a person “good,” it's impossible to achieve that goal. For many, the struggle between trying to be good and having negative character traits can cause extreme anxiety or depression. We will discuss some of these issues and how to overcome them later in this article.

What Is Goodness?

The word "good" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "virtuous, right and commendable; kind and benevolent."

Henry David Thoreau was quoted as saying, "Goodness is the only investment that never fails."

Characteristics Of A Good Person

A good person often has habits, or characteristics, that make him or her stand out to others. A few examples include:

Empathy

An empathetic person expresses an understanding of how others feel. It is expressed as an emotion, not just a verbal statement of understanding. An individual who is hurting often longs to have someone who understands what he or she is going through.

Honesty

An individual who wants to be a good person will strive to be honest with themselves and others. Dishonesty is one way to ruin a relationship and can make people view you negatively.

Humility

Being humble doesn't mean a person subjects themselves to humiliation. Rather, a person who practices humility is willing to be kind to others without expecting to be rewarded. A humble person is willing to give of themselves and does not expect to receive anything in return.

Fairness

Being free from personal biases means that an individual can give an opinion without prejudice. It reflects a commitment to the basic principles of what is right, rather than being committed to the opinions of others.

Responsibility

Taking responsibility for one's actions is a sign of maturity and is a characteristic of a good person.

Why Being A Good Person Matters

Your actions and behaviors help build your reputation. Some people may be known as selfish, money-hungry, or a menace. Others may be seen as kind, generous and faithful friends. Your reputation, among other factors, will help to create the opportunities you encounter in life.

Life choices, as mentioned above, have a way of following us for years, sometimes throughout our whole life. Below, we'll discuss how our choices and reputations affect our lives, and why being a good person matters.

How Being Good (Or Bad) May Affect Your Career

Consider, for a moment, that you were the owner of a company and you needed to hire a new employee. Among potential candidates, two have amazing resumes. However, when you look beyond the words on the resume and contact references, one of the candidates is spoken very highly of. You are told that she is passionate about work, honest and very accountable. The other candidate, however, has references that were not as glowing. You were told that he was always late for work, could not take instruction or advice from supervisors without being offended, and was caught being dishonest in a few business deals. Suddenly, the experience outlined on those resumes doesn't seem as important, does it?

Practicing habits of honesty and integrity are ways to establish yourself as a "good person." Choosing to do otherwise could result in a negative impact on your career.

The Good, The Bad, And Relationships

Without a doubt, our behavior (whether good or bad) will impact our relationships with others. Practicing bad habits or acting poorly will eventually make people doubt our sincerity and trustworthiness. On the other hand, having a giving attitude and being honest and selfless are characteristics that people seek when building a long-term friendship or intimate relationship. It's a matter of feeling safe. Relationships are an investment, and people who want healthy relationships will seek out people who make them feel safe, rather than those who leave them feeling uneasy or questioning their worth.

Being good is a personal decision. No matter how much education we receive on the positive and negative effects our behavior has on ourselves and others, no one can force another to be a genuinely good person. Consider the benefits of being a good person and how good behavior can impact your life for years to come.

Earning The Respect Of Others - Doors of opportunity tend to open more easily when we have the respect of others. Having the reputation of being a good person speaks volumes to present or potential employers, your co-workers, and your peers. When other people respect you, you are more likely to have a positive influence on their lives.

Respecting Yourself - If you find it difficult to respect yourself, chances are, others will not be respectful of you either. Acting in a good manner with honest habits and a good work ethic will give you a sense of pride and the right to respect yourself and your efforts.

Feeling A Sense Of Purpose - Our actions can create a sense of accomplishment or a feeling of regret. Learning good behavior, and practicing it daily, will create a feeling of purpose. The more purpose we feel, the more determined we become to accomplish good things in our lives.

By: Darby Faubion