How to Be Righteous: 10 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Being fair means being kind, sincere, and empathetic without expecting any recognition for your behavior. It's a rare combination of several virtues, but with a little practice, anyone can become a righteous person. Do you want to be the kind of person who fights for what he believes in or a coward? Do you want to be someone who works to help friends in times of need and who is known as an exemplary citizen? Start small, like showing up on appointments when you've promised you will or asking someone if they need help. When you practice righteous living daily and make it clear to others that you are there for them, doing right will come naturally to you.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Develop a Sense of Honor

Step 1. Be the person you claim to be

It is easy to be a pleasant person, someone who walks with a smile ready for everyone and who greets anyone who meets their eyes. However, being fair is not the same as being friendly. When it comes to honor, it is more important to be authentic than friendly. Show the world who you really are, even at the cost of sacrificing your reputation as a "nice" person from time to time. To be righteous, you must be worthy of the trust of others.

If you hide your true thoughts and feelings behind a mask, try to get rid of that mask and observe what happens. Maybe some people will feel uncomfortable at first, but after some time they will trust you even more, as you are revealing a greater percentage of your personality to them.
This doesn't mean you have to be gruff, but try to be more honest about how you feel rather than "sweetening" the pill to make social interactions easier or to make others like you.

Step 2. Do what you promise to do

If you back out of plans every time, or fail when you promised you would help, work on getting these things done in the best possible way. Maybe you really want to date that old friend who has been calling you for a long time, but your actions speak louder than your intentions. A key part of being righteous is getting rid of your "fragile" parts.

Even white lies - apparently harmless - said for a good purpose will make you less reliable in the eyes of others, and in the long run you will lose the trust of those around you. Doing what you promise, no matter how small it is, fortifies character and develops a sense of honor.
Practice. Sooner or later you will hate the feeling of incompleteness of not getting things done and stop making commitments out of your reach.

Step 3. Strengthen your values

What do you believe in? In given situations, how do you decide what is right and what is wrong? Having strong values is the key to being righteous, as this means always doing the right thing, even if others disagree with you. It can be difficult to figure out how to act righteously in certain situations. Your values are the cornerstones you must rely on when there is no one else to ask. When you are in line with your values, you can be proud of yourself for giving the best you can, regardless of the outcome.

Your values may be in line with a certain religion or belief system. Maybe your parents gave you an education based on strong values while they were raising you. Try to examine your values to make sure you truly believe in them, as it is difficult, if not impossible, to fight for something you don't believe in.
If this concept is difficult for you right now and you are looking for answers, try to talk about it with people you think are wise, read philosophical or religious texts, take part in spiritual services. Explore different value systems and compare them with your life experiences to figure out which one is right for you.

Step 4. Take care of others

The righteous person takes care of the people who are a part of his life. It's the parent who does two or three jobs to make sure his kids have the best, he's the friend who doesn't let you get behind the wheel after a booze night. The right people show their deep love for others through their actions. If the people in your life don't know you have their back, it's time to start showing it.

Also take care of people outside your inner circle. Behaving righteous isn't just about helping people you know and love. What would you do if walking down the street you saw someone who needs help?
Challenge your limits. Of course, it's hard to give every beggar some change. It is not possible to help everyone you meet. But being fair means seeing people as people, respecting their humanity, and giving all the little you can offer.

Step 5. Get rid of any ulterior motives you may have

If you are righteous, you help people because you care about them, expecting nothing in return. When you do something kind, you don't have to do it for selfish reasons, but for love. Think about the decisions you make every day and choose what gives them strength. Only you know if your interactions are influenced by hidden purposes.

For example, have you ever given advice that served you more than the person you were trying to help? If your sister asks if you think it's okay for her to move to New York, but you absolutely want her to stay with you, don't let your feelings sway you. Recommend what you think is best for her, not for you.
Don't build up resentment towards others and don't wonder what you can get out of a given situation. If you don't want to do something, you should stop doing it. It is more appropriate to be direct and open about how you are, rather than secretly despising what you are doing.

Part 2 of 2: Behaving Righteous

Step 1. Work to get what you want

Do you want a new car? Any new clothes? You deserve each of these things, but don't use shortcuts to get them. It's much easier to take the easy road, but usually it involves hurting someone else, and if you do it often it will backfire. If you want something, work to get it. It is the right thing to do.

Do not steal and do not try to deceive others instead of paying what you owe.
Don't shamelessly go for someone else's tipsy girlfriend instead of trying to have a real relationship with an available girl.
Don't borrow money from your friends and family all the time rather than look for a job.
Don't take credit for someone else's idea rather than try to get your own.

Step 2. Be honest

Honesty and honor go hand in hand. Always tell the truth, both about your intentions and about an external situation. It will often embarrass you and you may have to suffer the anger of others - or you may have to hurt someone's feelings - but, at the end of the game, people will appreciate that you say it the way it is, rather than sweetening the pill.

If you find yourself in a situation where telling the truth makes you uncomfortable, don't say anything. It is always better than lying.
As for the little white lies we sometimes tell so as not to hurt other people's feelings, make your own choices. If you lie too often about even small things ("That dress looks great on you!" Or "Yeah, I really liked your speech!"), People will stop trusting you and start assuming you say certain things just to be. Kind.

Step 3. Stand up for what you believe in

Finding your values is one thing, fighting for them is another. It's easy to argue about something that's only in your mind, but honest people talk openly and intervene in discussions. Standing up for your values can mean a lot of things and doesn't always involve big shows. You can behave righteously and serve as an example to others through these little things.

For example, if everyone at work makes fun of a certain person when they are not around, you might make it clear that you don't think they are right. Sometimes, simply say "I disagree!" it is a way to highlight your opinion.
Sometimes you will have to deal with more serious problems and you will have to choose whether to fight for what you believe in or keep your job, remain friends with someone, or maintain a reputation as a sweet and intelligent person. In these situations, the true sense of honor comes out, and hopefully, every time you have behaved correctly in minor situations, you will need it to make the most serious decisions.

Step 4. Help the neighbor

If I were to draw a caricature of a righteous person, it would show a boy giving his seat on the bus to an elderly lady and helping a child carry the backpack while offering to pay for the ride to someone running out of change. All of these clichés show ways to behave righteously and they are all situations that can happen in real life, giving you easy opportunities to be right. Either way, real honor is shown by doing things you don't feel like doing anyway.

For example, say your brother and his two dogs need a place to stay for a few weeks after being evicted. It could get very uncomfortable, but it's your brother, so do it anyway.
Or maybe you're driving to the airport to catch a flight to Venice for your honeymoon, but you see a car skid and crash into the guardrail. Even if this means that, in all likelihood, you will miss your flight, stop and offer to help.

Step 5. Never manipulate people

Part of being righteous is recognizing the effect of your words and actions on others. You are able to help, but also to hurt. Don't play with people's emotions to get what you want. It's easy to do this without even realizing, so be careful of the impact you have on people.

Don't take advantage of others' weaknesses.
Don't morbidly control those around you. Let people make their own decisions.
Don't use remorse as a weapon against people to get them to do what you want.
Don't fool people into believing that you are more emotionally involved than you really are.