How to Instantly Become a Better Human Being With Small Changes
I picked up on a few traits from people I really respect. Here they are:
You listen.
I am sociable. Most of the time, I love people. I love what makes them tick, what excites them, what they care about, and what they hope to change the world with. I observe people a lot and one of the things I’ve observed are good listeners, ones who actively listen and are engaged.
Being a good listener takes patience and tact. There are subtle cues that you can incorporate, such as turning your phone over — that is being intentional to show the other person you care. Subtle nodding is good, especially when one is speaking to you. My friend also shows he’s listening by asking, “So it seems to me like..” or following up with questions that make me process and think more in depth.
Too many of us are glued to our phones these days. The worst is when you are talking to someone, and she picks up her phone midway and begins texting. That is being a bad listener…and friend.
You notice someone is uncomfortable being alone, and you help ease them into a conversation or group.
You don’t have to do this, but you can.
A few years back, there was a hashtag going around: #NoNewFriends. It was this term coined by the singer Drake. It basically meant you would stick with the friends you already have and didn’t need to make new friends. But why? You deliberately miss out on making new friends on purpose — it’s basically saying you don’t need to try.
Honestly, it’s harder to make friends when you’re older. One too many times, I’ve found myself the odd one out and left uncomfortable to be sociable at an event. I’ve always appreciated the people who made me feel at ease, drew me into conversation so I wouldn’t feel alone or awkward, and who happily welcomed this stranger into a social setting. Those warm, friendly people are the greatest kinds of people — stay close to them and become one of them.
You express when you’re thankful.
This is a big one. Everyone thinks that expressing gratitude is easy, but we shrug it off when we don’t think we need to express it or we’ve taken it for granted. This is an easy way to make someone feel appreciated or touched. Life is short — we should voice how we feel with the people around us, and with people we care about. This is but a simple thing that everyone should learn how to practice. Tell your mom you appreciate her cooking. Tell your boss that you’re glad for her mentorship. Tell your friend thank you for listening to you rant about bad roommates.
Becoming a better human being takes small tweaks that amount to big change. By putting this three things into practice, you’ll find that your life becomes a little bit more brighter in ways you might not have seen.
Emily is a US expat currently living in Singapore to learn about the tech communities growing in Asia. She has worked 4+ years in dev relations, community management, and event marketing within the tech and travel industry. Her time at OmniSci, Google and Booking.com gave her cross-functional expertise. In her free time, she is the host for the Asian Female Lead podcast and documents her life journey in digital at The Fang Girl. You can watch her YouTube vlogs.
