Whenever things go bad in our lives, one of the most clichéd responses in modern times has to be the encouragement that says “you still have your health”.   Of course this has become almost a non-response anymore, but at the end of the day, who we are is really all we have to give.  It therefore becomes important for each of us to become the best representation of humanity that we can be.

But how do we accomplish this?  It’s one thing to say “I will be a better person”, quite another to affect the changes necessary to become one.

The first thing you should do is take a long, hard look at yourself, and ask yourself some tough questions, identifying those values that you hold most dearly, make a thorough assessment of your talents and interests, and look for ways to put them all together practically, creatively, and productively.

Never underestimate the power of integrity.  Put your values into practice.  As the song says, start today to be someone you’d be proud to know.  Do what you say and say what you mean.  Remember that our reputation is what other people think of us….character is who we are when no one is watching.

Strive toward change in your life and the lives of those around you.  Share some of your time, talent, and resources to bring about systematic change that benefit everybody.  Find issues that concern you, compel you, and inspire you.  You will be surprised at just how much satisfaction you will receive from such endeavors.

Avoid conspicuous consumption.  Rethink your use of products with dubious values, or that have been produced through questionable means.  Reuse whatever you can, and look into borrowing what you need rather than making unnecessary expense.  Although this author debunks the myth of global warming, recycling is still a good idea and should be put into practice, if for no other reason than to make us more aware and responsible for what we use and throw away.

Change your diet.  Whenever possible, eat plant based foods produced close to where you live. Grown organically, and largely unprocessed.  This will improve not only your health, but the environment and lives of other people.

Learn a new language.  This is coming from somebody who made straight D’s in high school Spanish, but that notwithstanding, acquiring a new language is a rewarding skill and will also open you up to new and different and exciting cultures.

Find a new hobby.  We all need pastimes, things that we do strictly for our own enjoyment.  Is there a sport you have always wanted to learn?  A musical instrument you wanted to pick up?  Perhaps you’re an unsung writer with various and wonderful tales spinning around in your head just waiting to be put to paper.  Find what interests you and do it.  From fencing, golf, rock climbing, football, canoeing, or ice skating, pottery, Italian cooking, dancing, wine appreciation, web design…the possibilities are endless!

Have an inspirational room.  Your environment goes a long way toward setting the mood and tone for your life.  I live in a small apartment and decided to decorate it to reflect surroundings in which I feel comfortable and inspire me creatively.  The end result was a movie motif, with posters and other memorabilia adorning the walls and shelves.  It makes it very easy to get inspired to do well and go far every day.

Face your fears.  We are all afraid of something.  Some of us dread the thought of speaking in public, while some of us relish the idea.  Fear paralyzes us and prevents us from growing.  Face your fears and overcome them.  This author plans on facing his fear of heights by skydiving in the coming year.

Become a morning person.  Wake up early.  I was a musician for twenty years, and was used to sleeping late almost every day.  Over the last year, I have had to become a morning person out of sheer necessity, and I have come to relish it.  Usually at work and productive by 7AM, off by 3PM, and with the bulk of the day still ahead of me to enjoy other pursuits.  You’ll be surprised at just how much more energy you have to face the day.

And finally, be persistent.  Never stop putting change into practice.  Fundamentally changing your life may be difficult at first, but the more you put into it, you will find it slowly becoming second nature.  At some point the process of change will become the new you.