If You Do Even 2 Of These 8 Things, You Can’t Call Yourself A Good Person

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Being a good person doesn't mean you have to be a superhero. You don't have to bend over backward to get everyone what they want, nor do you have to rescue everyone who's feeling down. Being a good person is about basic respect and understanding.

And yet, that's still too hard for some people to grasp. We're often unaware of our own real shortcomings, so here's a good measure to see if you can really call yourself a good person.

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Strength Of Character

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We all like to think of ourselves as good people. We do good things, support our friends, help our family members, and try to be positive forces where we can. However, a surprising number of people become so enamored with their good traits that they don't even notice their bad ones, even when the bad far outweighs the good.

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Reflecting on ourselves and our behavior is a great way to make sure that we're actually doing good in the world, because if you do even just a few of the things listed here, you can't really call yourself a good person.

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1. Always Canceling Plans Last Minute For No Reason

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When you think of someone with good character, one trait that will likely come to mind is reliability. Knowing someone will consistently show up when they say they will is comforting, while someone always canceling plans (especially if it's at the last minute) shows a disregard for others' time and feelings.

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Over time, people may stop including you in their plans altogether, assuming you're more likely to cancel than show up. Of course, there are very valid reasons for canceling plans, and your loved ones should be understanding of those times. It's the repeated, seemingly reasonless cancellations that start to get on peoples' nerves.

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2. You Gossip About Your Friends

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Gossip, no matter how innocuous it may seem, is a betrayal of trust. When you gossip about someone with other people, you're not only potentially damaging their reputation but also revealing your own lack of integrity. True friends support each other, even in their absence, rather than using personal information as a form of social currency.

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Habitual gossip can also reveal deeper issues with self-esteem or empathy. It often stems from a desire to feel superior or to deflect attention from one's own insecurities. By focusing on others' flaws, drama, or misfortunes, you're able to avoid thinking about your own. It's a defense mechanism in a way, but a rude one.

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3. You Purposefully Ignore Texts Or Emails

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In our interconnected world, communication is key. Purposefully ignoring messages, whether personal or professional, shows a lack of respect for the person on the other end of the line. No matter the reason, it's a form of passive aggression that can damage not only your reputation but also your relationships.

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This behavior often stems from avoidance, procrastination, or sometimes even annoyance, but the impact can be significant. People may feel dismissed or unimportant, creating misunderstandings and conflict where there didn't need to be any. A truly good person recognizes the importance of clear communication and makes an effort to reply, even if it's just an acknowledgment and a promise they'll respond fully later.

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4. You Only Ever Complain, You Don't Work To Solve Things

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Constant complaining is not only unproductive but also draining for those around you, especially if you make no effort to change the cause of those complaints. It demonstrates a lack of personal responsibility and a tendency to wallow in negativity rather than seek solutions.

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This behavior can also be contagious, bringing down the mood and morale of the people you're complaining to. Venting can be therapeutic occasionally, but repetitive complaining without any effort to address the underlying issues doesn't help anyone. It keeps the complainer trapped in a cycle of negativity with no path to improvement or resolution.

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5. You Make Promises You Know You Can't Keep

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Making promises you know you can't keep is a form of dishonesty that can really wear away at relationships. It's not just about the disappointment you cause; it's about the pattern of behavior that shows a disregard for your word and others' expectations. Things happen sometimes, sure, but to continuously make promises you then don't keep is just disrespectful.

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This habit often stems from a desire to please others or avoid conflict at the moment, but the long-term consequences are far more damaging than any temporary discomfort from saying "no" upfront. Honesty and transparency are far more valuable than empty promises.

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6. You Take All The Credit For Team Contributions

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Success is rarely a solo endeavor, and claiming sole credit for group achievements is not only dishonest but also disrespectful to your colleagues. All this does is show a lack of humility and an overinflated sense of self-importance. People who claim that they did all the work usually believe it somewhat, their minds warping the share of work, even when evidence proves otherwise.

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Not to mention the wedges it drives between you and your peers. Sure, you might look good to management, but the people you work with will see your lies and think worse of you for it. No amount of momentary recognition is worth sabotaging important relationships.

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7. You're Frequently Late With No Reason Or Apology

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Chronic lateness is more than just poor time management; it's a show of disrespect for others' time. When you consistently show up late without acknowledging the inconvenience or even communicating that you're running behind, you're sending a clear message that your time is more valuable than everyone else's.

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It also often indicates a lack of organization and consideration for others. It can disrupt group dynamics and create unnecessary stress for those waiting on you. The world does not revolve around your schedule. Things happen, and people run behind, but when it becomes an expected, uncommunicated habit, it can really start to affect your relationships.

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8. You Don't Return Your Shopping Carts

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This one may seem silly, but the way you handle shopping carts can speak volumes about your character. Leaving carts scattered around the parking lot rather than returning them to the coral creates obstacles for other drivers and extra work for store employees.

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By not taking the extra minute to return the cart to its designated area, you're essentially saying that your time is more valuable than everyone else's. It's a small, quick, simple act that people do to help maintain an orderly shared space, and purposefully not participating is nothing short of selfish.

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Strive To Be Better

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The thing about a lot of these actions, traits, habits, or otherwise, is that a lot of them can be genuinely hard to recognize in yourself. People who do bad things rarely see them as such, coming up with justifications or reasons why it's not a big deal. The first step in rectifying these behaviors is knowing that they need rectified.

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Being a good person isn't about grand gestures or public accolades but rather about the small, everyday choices we make. It's about consistency in our actions, integrity in our relationships, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to the world around us. We all have the power to be good people. We just have to want it.

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