Most people strive to be a good person, a person that takes the moral high ground. Unfortunately, there's not too many people who put their ideals into practice. Well, I thought about people in my life that I thought were good in every way. Then I thought about what they did to be so good, and I came up with this list. I hope these tips can help people find their way, so they can help others find their way--as I believe that is our main purpose on this earth: helping each other.

Good people are honest. Good people will tell you the truth, even if it's something you may not want to hear at the moment. However, their intention is never to hurt you. Good people are sincere and it's hard to pick up on anger when a good person is telling you the truth unless you're trying to avoid something. They don't sugar coat or use flowery language. They're direct and to the point.

Good people will stick up for you. Good people say things that make you feel better about yourself. Perhaps they'll say a light joke to get you to laugh or they'll defend you when nobody else will. I remember this one sweet old lady that stuck up for me when nobody wanted to sit next to me on the school bus. I could have sworn she was a guardian angel.

Good people understand that the means don't justify the end. Good people don't hurt for some higher purpose. Good people simply do good things, from little things to big things. Good people see the 'greater good' as something that's happening constantly. Good people won't trick you into admitting your problems, they'll empower you to make a difference. If a Good person sees another human being in pain, the first person they'll look at is themselves. Now remember, I said the FIRST person. Good people will want to help others be good, but only after they've experienced the goodness themselves. Good people are not hypocrites.

Good people will never take away your choices. Good people will never force you to do anything. However, they are very powerful because they'll show you the way. They'll point out clearly what each choice will bring out for you, and they will be right. Good people will encourage you to do things that bring happiness in your life. TRUE happiness, not just temporary gratification. When you're around a good person it is downright impossible to blame them for your mistakes. Which brings me to my next point . . .

Good people will be immune from emotional and spiritual harm. Frankly, this is a higher level of goodness that very few attain. Our society tells us to 'listen to the message not the messenger' which to me is a silly misnomer like 'hate the sin, love the sinner.' But when I say immune from emotional/spiritual harm, I mean that you can try to hurt a good person but they'll still stand tall and brave. They will not look like they have "beaten" you at anything, however--they simply cannot be hurt by your pain. Most people give up helping as soon as they hear their first "*@#% you", but not good people. A good person won't whine about how life has been horrible to them and how they try to help all these people but nobody respects them. Again, this invincible glory is something that's pretty rare in this world but I believe that everyone has the potential. Obviously, good people still get their feelings hurt but they won't use this as an excuse to stop being good.

Good people stop violence and hatred just by their mere presence. This is also the best way to differentiate the truly good people from the people who are not yet good, they just think they are. This is a pretty powerful force of good. It may seem like brainwashing, or taking away free will, but it just means that some good people are so good, there can be no evil when they're around . . . they drive it away like the sun. They talk to people in seemingly hopeless situations very calmly. They are so good, other people don't want to victimize or fear them.

Good people see the good in everyone. Good people understand that the face of God is in every human being. This is the main foundation point of goodness. Good people immediately want to protect those that are being treated unfairly (usually in the name of 'Goodness') as they know that people are people. People are not what they do. People aren't their kids, or their parents, or their degrees, or their jobs, or even their hobbies and passions. Good people understand that other people are greater than the sum of their parts.

Good people simply understand what people need. That's pretty much it in a nutshell. A good person understands what other people need, and they do something about it.

© Sam Leonard
Life Channels Staff Writer
All Rights Reserved

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