Pearl Nash
Do you ever just wonder if you’re a good person? Not “social media” good, neither “superficial” good, but genuinely good.
Do you? Well, I do. It’s one of those things I worry about, not being a good person. If I’m being a good neighbor or if I help enough.
I know I’m not the only one. So, let’s discuss this, even briefly; because as much as I would like to have an article that will satisfactorily discuss the concept of goodness, being good is just so nuanced.
But for now, let’s focus on behaviors.
Here are 11 of these behaviors that show you’re a genuinely good person.
1) Being empathetic towards others
“Genuine empathy may be linked to compassion. It’s often viewed as the ability to understand how someone else is feeling, and what they need, even if you can’t relate to their circumstances. It helps you understand others and leads you to behave in appropriate ways based on this understanding.”
– How To Be More Empathetic | Hope Gillette
Empathy is a good indicator of goodness. It connects us. It binds us together.
It shows us that we can care about the feelings of other people (or even other things). It shows us that we care about the well-being of not only ourselves but also the world at large.
And that in itself shows goodness.
2) Practicing gratitude
“Gratitude appears to have a domino effect. If a person experiences gratitude, they are more likely to recognize the help and then later reciprocate that help (Wood et al., 2010). People who are thanked are presumably more apt to extend help to others in the future.”
– What is Gratitude and Why Is It So Important? | Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D.
Being grateful? It shows the strength of your character.
Not only being grateful to others when they offer help but also showing gratitude over life. It shows optimism, it shows resilience.
The simple act of saying thanks is a catalyst, so to speak. It shows gratefulness, it strengthens bonds, and it shows appreciation.
And who doesn’t like being appreciated?
3) Being honest in both thought and action
“I challenge all of us to accept our negative traits as eagerly as we embrace our positive qualities. Ignoring our faults gives them power, understanding our shortcomings gives us the opportunity to do better ― and be better.”
– Gabe Howard, host of the Inside Mental Health podcast
How does accepting our negative traits show goodness, you might ask? Well, it shows honesty. It shows the capacity and honesty to acknowledge our shortcomings.
It also shows us and others that we have the capacity to change, to grow, to be better.
The opposite of it is stagnating, the opposite of it is wanting to appear perfect. For one, that is exhausting. Another, it’s disingenuous.
4) Being accountable for yourself
“When you’re personally accountable, you take ownership of situations that you’re involved in. You see them through, and you take responsibility for what happens – good or bad. You don’t blame others if things go wrong. Instead, you do your best to make things right.”
–Developing Personal Accountability | Mind Tools Content Team
A good person is an accountable person.
Continuing the thought of the previous number, acknowledging our faults and shortcomings shows accountability.
It shouldn’t end with just acknowledging our faults, there should also be changed behavior. At the very least, there should be a willingness to change.
5) Being generous without expecting anything in return
A good person is one who is generous without expecting anything in return.
Giving without expecting any reciprocation shows a level of selflessness and compassion. It fosters our sense of community. It fosters our inherent need to connect to others.
It shows that our actions are driven by empathy and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on others’ lives—and not selfishness.
6) Being reliable
Not flaking on people? A good plan. Sticking to our commitments? Also a good plan.
When we show up for people, especially when they need us, we build trust and dependability. It shows we are reliable, that we can be counted on. That when it matters, we will pull up.
It helps create a sense of security and stability for those around us.
7) Staying true to your principles
“[Integrity] goes beyond speaking the truth to include taking responsibility for how one thinks and feels and what one does. It includes the genuine presentation of oneself to others (being sincere) as well as the internal sense that one is a morally coherent being.”
– Integrity Defined | Ben Dean Ph.D.
Integrity is, once again, a test of character. When the pressure is on and the stakes are high, do you falter?
Who do you become when the stakes are against you? Do you forget your morals? Your principles? Do you minimize yourself for the sake of the status quo?
Integrity will set you apart. Your principles will set you apart. It is how you earn trust and it is how your character is shaped.
8) Encouraging others
“And what an amazing gift we can offer to others through encouragement! When we “en-courage,” it’s as though we actually infuse courage into another person. Encouragement can provide people with strength to look ahead, move forward, and reach for the next goal. The whole emotional tone of a tough situation can be transformed through encouragement. Somehow things seem a little brighter.”
– The Quiet Power of Encouragement | Julie J. Exline Ph.D.
Being genuinely encouraging to others shows you’re a good person because life’s a rat race, isn’t it? It’s so easy to just focus on ourselves and call it a day.
Yet you, you encourage others. You cheer them on when the going gets tough. You clap for them, you support them in whatever way you can.
That shows the goodness of your character, and people can see that.
9) Respecting boundaries
Consideration. That’s what it shows when you respect other people’s boundaries. It shows that we care about their comfort and that we pay attention.
It shows care.
When we acknowledge and adhere to the boundaries set by others, we show that we value their autonomy and well-being. It shows respect to their person and that? That is good.
10) Being mindful of your place in the world
“Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.”
– Robert Baden-Powell
I want to end this list with this one: It shows you’re a genuinely good person if you are mindful of your place in the world. A good person is one who is mindful about what they will leave behind.
It shows care, empathy, and compassion to be aware of the consequences of our actions. As much as we can do a world of good, we can also be responsible for harm, and we need to pay attention.
Not all of us will be ambitious enough to change the world, but that’s not necessary to want what’s best for it.
Small ripples make big waves, you know?
