Before we dive into what it takes to go from you to the best you we need to decide whether or not you even really want this.  I’m going to warn you before hand, becoming a better person than you are now isn’t easy, and the only real grand reward is your own satisfaction.  There will be many setbacks, many times when you are less than perfect, and every once in a while you’ll probably even wonder if it’s worth it.  But in the end, if you are anything like me, you’ll realize that being a good person is in itself a reward.  It may sound like you’re taking on more work, and you are.  But nobody said that being a better person was going to be easier than being normal.  If that were the case everyone would be better, right?

So what now?  Basically the first step is to divide each aspect of your life and to define what the best person in each aspect is.  If you don’t know the route you’ll never meet the destination, right?  I’ll start with the basics.

Career – Think about your job.  Are there any real “goody two-shoes?”  You know, the overacheiver.  The one who annoys you because they are seemingly so good at everything they do.  Well, you might have never thought about this, but maybe they just are that good.  Some people really work towards doing the things they do well, even if it’s something that you don’t think matters much.  It’s time to become that person’s best friend.  Learn from them.  Mimick them.  Find ways to be of value to others at your workplace beyond your regular responsibilites.  It’s not necessarily all about doing more work though.  Be nicer to your co-workers.  Take time to pay compliments to coworkers every once in a while.  They will really appreciate it, and will think of you more fondly than they probably do now…

Health – Being a better person also means being healthier and looking better.  Sorry to be a bit vain here, but looking better makes you feel better, and feeling better makes you perform better in all aspects of life.  Plus there is just something about a little physical activity that just makes you feel alive.  Try to implement some moderate exercise into your life.  It doesn’t have to be running or lifting weights. Even a pickup basketball or throwing a frisby with friends is a start.  Also pay attention to your diet.  YOu don’t have to count calories, but we both know that McDonalds every day is a bad idea.  Try to implement more fruits and veggies into your diet, and skip the soda next time.  You’re body will thank you.

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Purpose – This one is more philosophical than any others, but it also has the potential to change your daily routine the most.  The difference between good people and average people is a drive towards purpose.  Just by understanding what your purpose is will lend it’s way to greater success, and people love to be around successful people.  I’m not here to tell you what your purpose is, but I will tell you that you need to find your purpose.  Then you need to do at least 1 thing every single day that moves you closer to that purpose.

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Growth – Personal growth is the reason I started Zen College Life.  I’m not a model example of what this site is trying to mold you into.  I’m just like you.  But through reading, practicing, and careful observation I am able to see what growth and success looks like.  And through ZCL I pass that knowledge on to you.  I could share plenty of examples of changing your life to increase your own personal growth, but I’ll limit it to a few personal experiences.  I make a list every year of the big accomplishments I hope to achieve that year, and I try to review that list daily.  I’ve given up on playing video games during the week, because spending time with school work, fitness, and extra reading will help me grow more.  I don’t have a TV because watching TV doesn’t generally aid growth, while reading definitely does.  Again, take baby steps here.  If you don’t enjoy reading big, fat non-fictional informative books, subscribe to a few magazines in fields that interest you.  If you are into science, subscribe to a science magazine.  Same for fitness, psychology, history, or any other field of interest.  The more you know…

Helping Others – Would your friends, family, colleagues, employers etc. label you as a helping person?  If not, it’s time to change.  The greatest way to be a better person is to help other people.  From walking the old lady across the street to helping your little brother with his geometry homework.  No good deed goes unnoticed.  Plus you’d be surprised at just how good you will feel having helped another person succeed.  It’s probably one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.

Happiness - I saved this one for last, though it’s probably the most important.  Happiness or a lack thereof, is probably the biggest factor that decides what we do most often.  We don’t work our hardest in our careers because it doesn’t seem to make us happy.

The boss will probably never notice our hard work, right?  So what’s the use.  Going to the gym is exhausting and sometimes even hurts, so why bother.  Eating healthy doesn’t taste good, and that wont make us happy.  We don’t have time to define a purpose, we are stuck in the here and now.  Growth?  I graduated from school and decided to never learn anything ever again.  Helping others?  I need to help myself.

Any of these ideas sound familiar?  That’s because you’ve already defined what will make you happy and what won’t. Regardless of what other people see, notice, or think, happiness comes from within.  And until you redefine what will bring you happiness, none of this will stick.  Until you decide to enjoy doing your best at work all the time, regardless of what other people think, all working harder will do is make you more tired.  Until you decide that getting fit and eating better will bring you happiness, all it will be is rules and restrictions.  Until you commit to growing into a more knowledgeable and more aware human being, all you’ll be doing is reading.  And reading just for the sake of reading is like watching TV even when there is nothing good on.  It’s pretty much useless.

The key to being a better person is to understand that being a better person is a philosophy.  It comes from within and it stays within.  It’s not something you wear on your shirt, and it’s not something you brag about.  Being a better person is a mindset.  And only when you develop that mindset will you realize just how far you have to go.  I’ve only gone into the basics here, there are plenty of other aspects of your life that could use improvement.  Don’t fret though, you have an entire lifetime to reach that destination.  And like I’ve said before,  If you decide to take that journey, I’ll see you at the top, along with all the other greats.  Today is your day to take the first step.

Tags: finding purpose, Happiness, success