The Teenager Today – August 2019

that, but the really great make you

feel that you too can become great.”

2

Choose a role model

With a role model, you have an

example of whom to correspond to.

What are the qualities you admire in

that person? Think of how to apply

these qualities in daily life — at home,

at work, in creative pursuits, in social

relationships, in lifestyle, etc.

Whom do you look up to and why?

How are they making the world a

better place, and how can you follow

suit? Don’t lose sight of them; see

how they handle hard questions,

painful situations and difficult

circumstances, and learn from

them.

3

Stop comparing

yourself to others.

People differ from one another

in intelligence, abilities, talents,

health, success, financial

condition, popularity, etc. In any

given area, some may be better

than you and you may be worse,

while others may be worse than

you. By comparing ourselves

with others we make ourselves

miserable; it is a waste of time

and energy that could be used in

creative and profitable ways to

improve our inner resources.

Be happy about yourself and be

a positive person. You will then be

radiating happy and positive energy

and influence in society. Share with

the world your unique gifts and

talents, enriching others and yourself.

Don’t worry about what others have

and what you don’t have.

4

Love yourself.

A genuine love for self has

nothing to do with selfishness or

egocentrism. This idea is found

in the teachings of practically all

religions. The self is the necessary

seed-ground of all good thoughts

and deeds. To love yourself is to take

care of yourself and nurture yourself,

promoting your spiritual, physical

and emotional well-being.

You can love others only if you

Accept yourself as you are,

Love yourself,

And have confidence in yourself.

Your beliefs and actions should

make you, as well as others, feel

good. If you work for others without

caring for yourself, you are likely

to end up resentful, angry, negative

and disappointed; and you are not

likely to have any positive impact

on others. If you are acting like a

good person only on the outside

while inside you are self-loathing

please a particular person or to

win recognition, fame or reward.

Do good simply for your own

satisfaction of doing what you judge

to be good. Never brag about your

goodness or righteousness; never

play superior to anyone.

6

Make small changes.

A person cannot change in an

instant, but small changes can make

a big positive difference. Break up

your target into small goals, one

for each month, and focus on the

change you want to make in one or

two key habits. For example,

wouldn’t you feel bad if someone

interrupted while you were

speaking? A starting goal could

be, “I will listen to others without

interrupting them in any way.”

Greater interest, attention and

care should be taken in working

out your principal goal or main

resolution than in lesser matters.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Your

own resolution to succeed is

more important than any other

thing.”

Remind yourself of your

goals every morning and daily

evaluate your faithfulness to

them before retiring to sleep.

Note the progress you have

made from one day to the next.

Did you succeed or fail in living

up to your goals? If you failed, find

out the causes and take steps to

remove them.

In the words of Aurobindo Ghosh,

“An aimless life is always a troubled

life. Have a purpose in your life.

Every individual should always have

an aim. On the quality of your aim

will depend on the quality of your

life. Your aim should be high, wide,

generous and disinterested; this will

make your life precious to yourself

and others.”

Dr George Kaitholil is a distinguished speaker and author of 91

books. About 3 million copies of his books, published in 8 languages

in various countries, have been sold around the world. he has been

associated with The Teenager Today for more than 30 years.

and angry, all your outward actions

may be a mere pretence with no real

goodness inside.

5

Be your genuine self.

Be yourself; do not be like

someone’s carbon copy; do good

things as simply as you can. Only

a genuine person can do genuine

good. As Shakespeare said, “To thine

own self be true.” You will be able to

focus on your core values and what

is important for you.

Be good for goodness’ sake.

Don’t try to be good merely to

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