How to Be a Good Person

1. Identify what it is that being a good person means to you personally. Some people think that being a good person is as simple as not doing harm to another, but it is not always about what you don't do, but what you do for others. You might not be a bad person, but are you a good person ?
2. Try to look at the bright side of things. The Motto of the Christophers says: "It is better to light a single candle than it is to curse the darkness." Be that light. When you see controversy, try to be the one who changes the subject by suggesting a solution. Don't state what you would do, but ask everyone to get involved.
3. Don't try to correct people when they're angry by saying something irrational, just look with compassion and remain quiet. Saying I understand is usually the wrong answer. If you say anything at all, just say, " I'm sorry you feel this way, is there anything I can do to help ?
4. Stop comparing others with yourself. Try to understand that some have it better than you in life, but at the same time, many have it much worse. When we make ourselves miserable by comparing ourselves with others, we are wasting time and energy that we could use in building our own inner resources. Real life is found in using our own gifts and talents than over focusing on the gifts of another.
5. Every day, try to do an act of charity for some one else, even if it's something small. Even reach out to people who have been cold or indifferent to you. An act of kindness and generosity can go a long way.
6. Be respectful of elderly people. Realize that you will be old some day and may need a helping hand. Next time you go to a mall, parking lot or any where, focus your vision all around, look for an old person struggling with something, like carrying bags or loading groceries into their car. Say, " May I help you with that?" You will be doing a great service for seniors. Sometimes you may get one that is crabby or distrustful, and will refuse your offer, then simply say " I understand, and I wish you a good day." Don't give up at this point, and keep up looking for a person that will accept your offer. Realize that the elderly can have vision, hearing, or even dementia problems, so you may need to gesture with your hands as in carrying or loading. Go to a park and take a brisk walk, and if you see an old person all alone, say hello with a gentle smile, and ask how they are doing, just acknowledging someone is only proper, and can really make their day. Try to imagine loosing your spouse that you enjoyed and loved for many years, only to be left alone in the big world all by yourself. By developing this type of attitude of love and understanding for the gentle things of life, like the elderly, you be on your way to the true meaning of life and sharing, and you will become a better person.
7. Be compassionate towards mentally challenged people for they are people with feelings to, and they are brothers and sisters as well. Act as if life is just a chance, and you could have been born the same way, and if you were, how you would want to be treated. They too have a sense of feeling, so give them a big smile, and show loving compassion with your eyes. Be careful not to touch them though, because this can scare them. If other people are around that are smiling or laughing with your interaction with them, ignore them and keep your attention on your brother or sister that is your true friend.
8. Compliment friends who you might be jealous of, and people you don't know as well as you would like to. Giving credit where due is only respectful, and you would want the same kind of respect for an achievement you accomplished.
9. Be a better listener than talker. Follow what the person is saying, and confirm this with a follow up question on the topic, then they will know that you're paying attention to them.
10. Don't try to get attention by hiding or being rude when you are in an argument with a friend, talk to them and work it out. It is best not to fight fire with fire, perhaps suggesting for the both of you to take some time to think it over would be best. Be the one to succeed first. Say, "I really want to resolve this with you, because you are such a good friend. Let's take time and think this out."
11. Celebrate others' victories and good qualities, even when you do not feel as blessed as they do. Many cultures and religions have heroes, martyrs, and fables that may help individuals to find meaning and cultivate good character.
12. Love yourself. Practice unconditional self-acceptance. It is a lot easier to love others, but first you have to have confidence and love yourself. You can do this by going out in the community and offering small acts of charity, then gradually increasing them a little at a time. Do not try to do too much at once, but take it in baby steps. You will start to be a better person when you can put a smile on someone's face and make their day, and it will make yours as well. It has been said that it's in giving that we receive.
13. Make it a point that before you leave your house, that when you return that the world will be a much better of a place to live in. It does not have to be something big, but can be something like picking up some trash that someone threw down in a local park, or in front of your neighbor's home.
14. Pray and meditate to help cultivate the qualities you seek to embody.
15. Cultivate both compassion and good karma through volunteer service. See How to Volunteer.
16. Share your life and good philosophies with others. Give the young good moral values to live by, and the importance of them. Give examples of them by other peoples charities and yours as well. Sometimes you will feel as if your effort was in vain, but realize that you have planted the good seed in their minds, and it may take some time to to respond to it.
17. Don't be in a hurry in life, slow down and enjoy the fine and simple things of life. Don't be in a hurry to get to the store and get back. Sit back at the steering wheel and enjoy the scenery as you go. While in the store, notice all the fine and colorful fruits and vegetables that are there for your nourishment, and realize that others are not as fortunate to reap the same benefits. Buy some extra nourishing food to give to the food bank to help feed others. Suggest to the manager that their should be a food drop off somewhere in the store for the poor.
18. Only use the horn in you car in an emergency, not to blow at a little old lady or man that can barely see over the wheel. Realize that they are old and have to take their time so they don't injure themselves or someone else. They are taking their time and being kind, and so should you. Also realize that their time is not too much longer in this world, so cut them a break!
19. Don't take the closest parking space at the store. Choose one further away and figure it to be the exercise that you may need. Leave the ones close for those that need them.
20. Always insist on serving yourself the smaller portion of the food when dining with others. Never take the biggest piece of pizza or slice of meat, for you will appear greedy to those you are dining with.
21. Even doing simple things, such as smiling at someone who seems unhappy or holding the door open for a stranger, will help you become a better person. Soon enough, these small acts of kindness will become a habit that you don't even have to think about.
22. To start you mission to become a good person, please read this list every day and make it a part of you. Follow its guidelines and add some of yours as well, and also join in the discussion page.
23. Don't try to be like somebody else; just be yourself and do good things as simply as you can show and manage to do.
24. Remember to always be yourself and never who your not. It's always good to be a good person. But yourself is a part of you,and you must respect that.

 source: wikihow.com