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Who you are is a mixture of many personality traits. Since self-development is an ongoing pursuit, it is important to develop an awareness of your various traits in order to strengthen the good ones and improve on those that are lacking.
Let’s look at some desirable personality traits. This list is only a sampling intended to get you thinking about yourself. You are a unique individual with your own personality. Use other people for inspiration, not duplication.
Selflessness. For whatever reason, an ever growing number seem to think the world is centered around them. They become caught up in their own lives to the exclusion of virtually everyone else.
You are selfless when you take an interest in others. You aren’t just wrapped up in yourself. Whether just holding a door open or being a friend who is there to listen, you look to help others whenever possible. As a selfless person, you are not just focused on what you need. You also have a genuine concern for others.
Tolerance. Each person is unique. Our society functions because there are so many different types of people. People have different aptitudes, desires, priorities, outlooks, perceptions, personalities, and dislikes. Be thankful there is so much diversity.
You will like some people more than others. If you accept people for who they are, then you have tolerance. You don’t have to agree with everyone and they don’t have to agree with you. As a tolerant person, you don’t try to change others.
Genuineness. With this trait, how you appear to others is a true picture of who you are. You are up front in your interactions and do not attempt any deceit. Genuine people are real, authentic, and honest. What you see is what you get.
Being comfortable with yourself is essential to being genuine. You don’t have to hide or mask any aspect of your personality. You understand that you’re not perfect and recognize that self-development is an ongoing process.
Integrity. It is often said that “everyone has their price.” However, those with integrity don’t have a price. They can’t be bought, cajoled, or enticed to act against their convictions. Unfortunately, integrity is too rare of a trait.
In order for you to have integrity, you must have solid moral and ethical beliefs. You must be willing to stand up for them regardless of any pressure to compromise your standards. Integrity creates a barrier that stops those with malevolent intentions from manipulating you.
Sensitivity. If you are aware of the feelings of others, you have sensitivity. You also appreciate the positive qualities of people and strive to encourage them. As a sensitive person, you are mindful of the impact your words and actions have on others.
You are considerate and polite, looking to be of assistance, even in small ways. Since you have an interest in others rather than just yourself, friends, acquaintances, and strangers feel comfortable around you.
Humility. Those with humility are secure in who they are without the need to boast. They don’t have anything to prove. With humility, you don’t behave as if you are always in competition with someone else. You are comfortable being in the background while others have the spotlight.
We all have both positive and negative personality traits. Take an honest look at yourself in order to identify your traits, both good and bad. Give yourself credit for the good ones. Make a commitment to replace the negative traits with positive traits.
Work on one trait at a time. Maintaining an awareness of your behavior is essential in order to successfully make changes. Regardless of where you are now, today is a great time to start making improvements.
NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at
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or write him c/o this paper. 2010 Bryan Golden
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