How to Be More Thoughtful

Has anyone, such as a friend or spouse, ever told you that you're a bit "rough around the edges"? Or, perhaps you've been realizing that you aren't always the most thoughtful person, and are hoping to change that. It is possible, but it takes a strong, genuine desire to change. Use the steps below as a guideline, and grow and build from there until you become the person you aspire to really be.

Steps

1. Be humble. In other words, be modest, and don't care so much about yourself. Although it's important to care about ones appearance and actions, it is equally important to value others for what makes them special.
2. Do good deeds for others, and don't expect anything in return. Go out of your way to make someone's day a bit brighter. Offer to pay for your friends lunch. Compliment an acquaintance's new shoes or one of their talents. Make coffee for your spouse without being asked. Do something you know will bring joy - if only a bit - into another person's life.
3. Take time to think carefully about the things you say or do, and consider how it might affect people who you are close to. This process takes time, because like a nasty habit you must refine your behavior. There may be residual mannerisms in what you do that work well for yourself, but not for others around you. Take some time with someone close to you to point out those things and take time to figure out when you're doing it, and what the triggers are so that you can stop it before it happens.
4. Keep your living quarters clean so that when you have others around they don't have to endure the discomfort of your environment. The atmosphere around you should be inviting and generally pleasing for anyone - no matter who they are.
5. Practice good hygiene. Once again, the comfort people have around you makes any type of thoughtful gesture more acceptable.
6. Exercise and have a good diet; this keeps your mind sharp. This is essential in dealing with people in your life because if you're not with it, how can you expect to maintain a friendly demeanor? The answer is: you can't, or it's virtually impossible. Make it easier for yourself by staying healthy. This also means avoiding drugs.