By Empowering Everyday Women Online // Spiritual Growth

Do you want to improve your life and the lives of others? Do you ever get tired of seeing all the darkness and ugliness in the world and desire to spread joy, peace, light and love? Do you want to grow and evolve?

If you have a deep desire in your heart to be a better person, EEW Magazine Online is revealing 7 things you can start doing today to achieve this goal.

Here they are:

#1 Walk in someone else’s shoes: If you judge everyone else’s experiences and base your ideologies and philosophies solely on what you’ve been through, you will be narrow-minded, insensitive, and haughty. Walk in someone else’s shoes, and place yourself in their position by educating and familiarizing yourself with their life experiences. When you do this, you’ll be more compassionate, slower to judge, and more eager to do what you can to make others’ lives better.

#2 Apologize quickly: Offending other people is inevitable because you, like everyone else, are human and make mistakes. When you mess up, instead of justifying your actions and defending your character, say I’m sorry, and mean it sincerely. Whether you took the offending action intentionally or unintentionally, it doesn’t matter. Either way, ask for forgiveness. You’ll see the amazing ways apologizing adds balance, beauty and harmony to your relationships. Furthermore, it pleases God when you are humble enough to admit your faults.

#3 Be thoughtful. When you display thoughtfulness, kindness and mindfulness, it can truly brighten someone’s day. Considering the needs of others, however, requires that you pay attention and be observant. Seek out ways to be a blessing to loved ones, coworkers and even strangers. A thoughtful person recognizes a need and fills it without looking for praise or applause in return. When you are mindful of others, God sees your good works in secret and rewards you openly.

#4 Give to a good cause. There are countless ways and opportunities to help those in need. Why not volunteer your time, give financial resources, bring awareness to a cause– or do all three of these things? Nonprofits, charities, and outreach programs right in your community benefit greatly from loving people like you that are willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. Pray to God for guidance on how, when, why and what to give.

#5 Lend an ear. Have you personally experienced the joy of being seen, heard and feeling like you matter? Everyone wants that! Those around you need an outlet to process emotions, work through issues, and vent their feelings to people of integrity. Although you may not be a therapist and can’t be there for everyone all the time, try occasionally lending an ear to someone in your circle, and give them your undivided attention. You may be surprised that lifting a person’s spirits can be as easy as being a safe space and a refuge for them to air things out with confidence that you’ll keep their secrets.

#6 Diffuse instead of fuel an argument. It takes two to argue. And at a time when disagreements over politics, social justice, religion, and civil liberties abound, we need more peacemakers. Even though disagreements, diverse views, or ideological clashes are inevitable among the best of us, try to always engage others that don’t share your views with compassion, civility and calmness. Sharing thoughts and ideas is healthy, but arguing, attacking and communicating on a base level is toxic.

#7 Read the Bible daily. This should be the number one suggestion, because the Bible is the blueprint for how to do all the things suggested in this article. If you want to be the best version of yourself, the pages of Scripture contain wisdom, strategies, and the spiritual advice you need to reach higher standards and be the kind of person God wants you to be.

Everyone should aspire to grow, evolve, and transform into a better version of themselves day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year. This is your chance. Don’t delay. Greatness is beckoning you!