How to Rules to Live by

Bring more satisfaction, structure, & spirit to your life

We all want to enjoy a fulfilling, meaningful life. And with all of the great people who've lived before us—geniuses, philosophers, you name it—you'd think that humankind would've collected some powerful words of wisdom. That's exactly what you'll find below! These "life rules" can help you get in touch with things that really matter to you as a person, all while cutting things that can't truly satisfy you deep down. Below, you'll find 10 truths to guide you toward a satisfying, sweet life. Let's dive in.

Steps

10 Life Rules to Live By

1. Nurture your internal world. Jobs change, people drift, and your external world will continue to shift. But there’s one constant—you. All the feelings you relish and suffer through are happening within you, and you have more power over them than you think. When bad things happen to you, remind yourself that you’re your own powerful ally in your life’s fight. When good things happen, linger on your feelings for longer.^[1]
   
   • Focus on making your mind a warm, comfortable place for you to live your life. You may not be able to control the world around you, but you can control the world inside of you.
   • Though, the goal isn’t to be totally impenetrable (at the end of the day, even our negative emotions give life color and meaning!). But in time, you can learn to avoid the bulk of life’s needless stress and overall, become a more resilient person.
   • Remind yourself that you control your inner life. Use breathing exercises to calm yourself. Speak to a therapist. Try to actually picture a cozy terrarium in your mind—a healthy, limited space, that you can tend to and make safe.
2. Love yourself, accept yourself—and be curious about yourself. You hear it everywhere—love yourself! Though it can sound easier than it is in practice, loving yourself is still worth the effort. You’re going to spend your whole life in this body, this heart, and this mind. No one will ever understand your struggle quite like you will. In a way, your relationship with yourself might be the most important one you have in your life, and so if that connection is toxic, the burden of that can be heavy.^[2]
   
   • Embrace what makes you unique. You can spend your whole life hating your crooked nose or forgetfulness—or you can accept it’s part of what makes you, you!
   • Quit comparisons. Think about yourself as a kid—wouldn’t you hate to feel that that person wasn’t giving themselves enough credit, and instead, was focusing on how they didn’t feel good enough (when they were)? In ten years, you might feel the same way about you, now.
   • Forgive yourself. The truth is, everyone makes mistakes. No amount of shame or guilt can undo the past, and that’s okay. Now, focus on accepting yourself and being better in the future. You deserve it.
3. Cut dependency from your life. It’s a tough pill to swallow—but the people you love aren’t perfect. There’s no single person, job, city, or passion that can make or break your happiness. The more you rely on external things to give your life meaning and to keep you satisfied, the more flimsy your foundation becomes. You are the only person you can truly rely on—but that’s okay, because you’re a great person to have on your side.^[3]
   
   • Even your closest friends and family will slip up sometimes. They might not treat you exactly in the way that you deserve, and that’s okay. Focus on forgiving, accepting, and loving them anyway, instead of expecting others to be perfect.
   • Though we can’t rely completely on external sources of love, we can always control how much love we give to others.
   • If you find yourself in a position where you feel you’ve lost a bedrock in your life—a spouse, a job, a family member—let yourself feel that loss. And when you’re ready, begin searching for new meaning in your life (trust us, it’s there).
4. Don’t try to change people around you; love them as they are. Again, it all comes back to that idea: you can’t control other people. They’re their own person—and the more that you try to change them, the more you might find that they pull away from you. It’s not about who’s right or wrong, but rather, the fact that we’re all on our own journeys. You can’t make someone more organized, more attentive, or more open without their active participation.^[4]
   
   • But here’s a secret tip: you can love them anyway. If you know you have someone in your life who’s amazing (and who you want to keep around), focus on giving them warmth and kindness—rather than seeing their life as your personal project.
   • Sometimes, people will ask for your help when they want to change, especially partners. If you wait until they ask you, that means you’re allowing them to grow on their own terms, which is what we all deserve to do.
   • This idea, though, is separate from abuse and harassment. If you’re being abused, not only can you not change them, but you shouldn’t wait around or try to love them through it. Speak to someone close to you and focus on getting safe.
5. Never stop learning. The more that you understand and the more that you’re exposed to, the more full your life will feel. Knowledge is more than just facts and skill sets—it’s the confidence you carry into every interaction, and it can bring peace in stressful moments. Look for ways to keep expanding your horizons, and don’t limit yourself to formal academics. There are so many ways to learn!^[5]
   
   • When someone has a unique opinion, listen. Every unconventional POV is another chance for you to better understand the world. For best effects, focus on listening without judgment.
   • Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Life is long, so if your mindset changes throughout it, that makes total sense. You don’t have to have the same set of opinions from start to finish, and in fact, that might be a sign that you’re not open-minded enough.
   • Read as much as you can. Challenge yourself if that’s what motivates you (why not make it your goal to learn the world capitals by the month’s end?). Expose yourself to ideas that you disagree with.
6. Follow your fire. Life is about living. If something excites you, it’s a gift. It’s a superpower. Whether it be your work, art, or people, make sure you follow through on things that leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and alive. So many people define their life by results and titles, but it might actually make more sense to chase experiences. If general, if you follow your passions in life, you’ll be rewarded.^[6]
   
   • Make art (and don’t worry about the final product). Express yourself, have fun, and get creative. Choose a medium that feels right to you, and don’t feel like you have to stress over your skill level.
   • Challenge yourself, just for fun. On the other hand—you can also use your "fire" to your advantage. Goals can make life even more exciting! Enter a poetry contest, run a 5k, or a take a rigorous class in something you’re passionate about. Push yourself, just for the heck of it!
   • Use passion as a superpower in your career. If you want a rich working life, use your inner fire to push you. Nothing external will motivate you as much as true passion and curiosity, so find a role that uses yours (or, try to find tasks within your job title that do!).
7. Savor the moment you have now. The past is the past and the future isn’t here just yet—your life is happening now. Future planning can be super helpful and past reflections can be a great teacher. But to spend your whole life missing what’s right in front of you? What a waste! Take a deep breath and really look around you now. Ground yourself in the company you keep. Smell the smells. Feel that breeze. This is it!^[7]
   
   • Some people find it difficult to be in the moment, potentially as an emotional defense. If you were unhappy as a child, you might’ve had to learn to distance yourself from pain (and as a result, the present moment). So if you struggle, that’s okay. You can improve!
   • Work on mindfulness to improve your ability. Little activities like meditation can go a long way!
   • Ask yourself questions about what you’re experiencing as practice. How do I feel? How’s the temperature? What am I experiencing right this second?
8. Play the long game, and invest in healthy habits. Being in the moment, though, doesn’t mean that every second of your day needs to be glorious and grand. Everyday, mundane habits can reap massive health benefits over time, and that can improve your overall quality of life. Being too obsessed with results and rigid routines can subtract from your life’s enjoyment, but on the other hand: some goals are worth reaching, and daily habits can get you there.^[8]
   
   • Make a list of 3 big goals to reach. Reflect deeply to be sure that they’re things you truly want—not things that other people want for you, or things you like the idea of.
     • You might say: I want to be physically healthy, I want to get my degree, and I want to be a great spouse
   • Now, set up happy, daily routines that support those goals. You might cut your glass of wine with dinner, set a timeline for your grad school apps, and aim to have one date night a week. Little building blocks can be the foundation for amazing, worthwhile experiences!
9. Shake up your life, early and often. You know that feeling you get when you visit a new place for the first time? Or when you learned something that had never occurred to you before? There’s magic in newness. By experiencing something unconventional or unique, you can subconsciously remind yourself of all of life’s possibilities—and that can be a great way to combat listlessness, boredom, and low energy. So get out there!^[9]
   
   • Try big things every few months: take a weekend trip away, start a zany course (like ax-throwing), or meet up with someone from your past.
   • Incorporate little, refreshing changes every day. Put on a fun pair of socks, try a new restaurant for lunch, or give your sister a random call during the day.
   • Sometimes, people get to a point in life where everything just feels wrong: remember, there a million different lives out there to live. When you feel you're losing hope in your life, don't be afraid to start fresh in a new place or with new people.
10. Surround yourself with things that make you feel great. It’s really that simple! Toxic friends, unfulfilling jobs, unappreciative partners…is that really what your life should be about? We don’t think so! When someone walks into your life and makes you feel amazing, work hard to keep them around. Spend more time doing things you love—less time doing things that feel like work.^[10]
    
    • Keep a journal to help you get an idea. When you finish a class, a coffee date, or a day at work, record how it left you feeling. Refreshed and excited? Or worn and empty?
      • You can even go one step further: use a gratitude journal to make note of people who make you feel great, and to remember how thankful you are for it.
    • Though, there’s a big difference between a rough patch and a toxic connection. In order to make a long-lasting friendship, relationship, or career work, it won’t always be a walk in the park. Walk away from things that aren’t worth it, but work through things that are!

Creating Your Own Life Rules

1. We all live life a little differently—so why not make your own rules, too? We all have values, beliefs, and mottos that guide us in our life, whether we're consciously aware of them or not. Sometimes, laying out those rules in ink can be a super useful way to get back in touch with ourselves, and to be sure that we're honoring the things we truly believe in. Below, we've pulled together a list of areas where you might decide to come up with your own mantra, including examples:
   
   • Love:
     • Communication is key
     • Never go to bed angry
     • If you know you love someone, you better show it
   • Family:
     • Family always comes first
     • You should never give up on family
     • Family might be defined by genes, but it's maintained through love
   • Work:
     • Work now, enjoy the rewards later
     • Love what you do, so you never work a day in your life
     • You can't spend your whole life working hard; you have to find balance
   • Health:
     • My body is a garden and my willpower is the gardener
     • A healthy outside starts from the inside
     • I keep my body healthy as a way to say "Thank you" to myself
   • Growth:
     • What I think is what I become; so I think positive thoughts
     • I haven't scratched the surface of my capabilities, so I never limit myself
     • Growth can be a little painful, but the end result is worth it
   • Self-acceptance:
     • This is the only self I'll ever have, so I plan to love her
     • My own opinion is the only one that truly matters
     • I'm always grateful for my mistakes, because that means I'm not playing it safe
   • You can find fulfillment by learning to connect with people and be authentically yourself.^[11]
   • You should know your values and then act upon that basis.^[12]
   • For example, if your number one value is to have a connection, you need to make one phone call a day to someone you love. If creativity is one of your values, you should spend two or three days a week writing, acting, singing, or painting.^[13]

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about improving your life, check out our in-depth with [v162123_b01].

References

1. ↑ https://warwick.ac.uk/services/wss/topics/emotional_resilience/
2. ↑ https://warwick.ac.uk/services/wss/topics/emotional_resilience/
3. ↑ https://warwick.ac.uk/services/wss/topics/emotional_resilience/
4. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/imperfect/2018/04/stop-trying-to-change-people-who-dont-want-to-change
5. ↑ https://academic.oup.com/oep/article-abstract/70/2/538/4917356?redirectedFrom=fulltext
6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8305859/
7. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/live-in-the-moment-but-also-plan-for-future-stress
8. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/
9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201702/how-do-neuroplasticity-and-neurogenesis-rewire-your-brain
10. ↑ https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/2012/10/surround-yourself-happy-people-be-happy
11. ↑ [v162123_b01]. 27 April 2022.
12. ↑ [v162123_b01]. 27 April 2022.
13. ↑ [v162123_b01]. 27 April 2022.

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How to Learn New Things

Is it ever too late to learn a new skill? Absolutely not! Learning new things is beneficial at any age, and it can change your life in many ways—from giving you a career boost to helping you discover a new passion. All you need is enthusiasm, focus, and some helpful learning strategies. From cooking to learning a new language, here’s a list of tips and techniques that will help you learn any new skill you desire.

Things You Should Know

• There are lots of ways to learn! Take a class, find a mentor, or self-teach. Use lots of different learning materials from books to online videos.
• Learn by doing and use experts' work as a guide. Try teaching someone else to hone your understanding of the subject, and give yourself tests.
• Make a practice schedule. Work in short bursts, practice often, and get rid of distractions. Challenge yourself, and reward yourself for progress.

Steps

Teach yourself using many sources.

1. The best learning materials vary based on the skill you want to develop. You're capable of learning new things without paying for a class or tutor! Gather any materials you need and track down a few reliable sources you can use to learn. This includes textbooks, online video tutorials, podcasts, blog posts, and movies. Do an online search for sources and check your local library for helpful books.^[1]
   
   • For example, there are plenty of available resources if you want to master drawing. Find books on drawing techniques at the library, look up video tutorials, and read a variety of how-to blogs online.
   • Any and every new source of information can help! Don't read a single how-to guide; using different learning styles to practice a skill can be even more helpful than using one method.
   • Don't worry about sticking to a particular learning style (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic). Engaging with the information you learn is far more important than studying a particular way.

Learn through practical experience.

1. The most effective way to learn something is just to do it! Books and tutorials are excellent primers, but try to start performing the new skill as soon as possible. Learn through trial and error rather than spending all your time on theories and memorization. Apply the ideas you learned from lessons and find out what works best for you in practice.^[2]
   
   • Let's say you want to learn a programming language like C#. Try it out rather than spending all your time in a textbook! Learn by coding a small program and working out the bugs yourself.

Take a class or online course.

1. Classes offer informative, guided instruction on your chosen discipline. Check out the course listings at your local community college or look for class offerings at local churches, free schools, community recreation centers, and cultural centers. Check local magazines and online listings for independent teachers and tutors, too. Platforms like Skillshare and MasterClass are also great resources!^[3]
   
   • If you're already a student enrolled in college, this should be an easy task! Just search your school's course list for a subject that interests you.
   • Ask people you know if they can recommend a teacher or tutor to you.
   • Many colleges and research institutions also have free online courses you can take, called "Massive Open Online Courses" (MOOC).
   • Make incremental goals small and manageable, so they build on each other. When learning to play guitar, start by learning scales and chords and then graduate to a basic song, and reward yourself after each.

Find a mentor.

1. Mentors offer valuable expertise and perspective that can help you learn. Find an expert in the skill you want to improve among friends, family, and coworkers. If you don't find anyone, try reaching out to others in your community or industry. Be polite when asking someone to be your mentor; describe your existing skills, your goals for the future, and what you hope to learn.^[4]
   
   • For example: “I’m a news journalist with plans to venture into columns and feature writing. I’d love to learn more about your journey pursuing a similar path and hone my proofreading and editing skills with your help.”
   • Reach out to a potential mentor through their contact information or a professional site like LinkedIn.
   • Once they express interest in being your mentor, set up an initial meeting for the two of you to discuss the mentorship further. Meet up in person if you can, or do a video call otherwise.
   • You could also propose a skill exchange! Teach someone in exchange for them teaching you, too. As a result, you'll both benefit and learn something new.

Compare your work with an expert's.

1. Study experts to help you find and hone areas that need improvement. Find an expert in your chosen discipline and look up examples of their work, then compare it to you own. How does their technique differ from yours? What can you change about your work to better match theirs? Identify successful techniques they use and practice them in your own work.^[5]
   
   • For example, read work from famous poets if you want to write poetry but are unsure how to start. Pick a style of poetry you like, analyze that poet's style, and try replicating it in a work of your own.
   • Eventually, you’ll develop your own style and technique. Until then, borrowing from an expert can help you gain a better understanding of the skill and improve your abilities overall.

Teach someone else.

1. Teaching a skill enables you to understand it better too. Why? Because by teaching someone else, you first have to think critically about the skill or subject and break it down into easily explainable pieces. Ask a friend or coworker if you can discuss what you've been learning with them. Make an informative presentation about the subject or start a blog about your learning process.^[6]
   
   • Say you’re learning how to decorate cakes. Craft a lesson plan for a friend! What techniques should they learn? In simplest terms, how would you explain working with fondant, or making a frosting flower?
   • However you decide to teach others about your chosen skill, practice explaining each concept with easy-to-follow steps. The better you can explain something, the better you understand it.

Set a study or practice schedule.

1. A plan will help you stay committed to your new pursuit. When learning a new skill, set a practice schedule and stick to it. Commit to spending at least 20 hours learning the skill; research shows that spending 20 hours on any skill will dramatically improve your understanding and ability. Reserve practice time for days when you have plenty of free time and the time of day you feel most alert.^[7]
   
   • For instance: if you're a morning person, schedule your learning period in the morning. You’ll be more alert and absorb more information that way.
   • Write the schedule in a planner, journal, or calendar. Putting your plan down in writing will help keep you accountable going forward.

Practice the hardest things first.

1. By improving weaknesses, you'll get more skilled overall. Practice makes perfect; the best way to learn new things is to practice regularly until you've mastered the discipline. Challenge yourself and prioritize anything you find particularly difficult, spending extra time correcting and improving your weaknesses. It's hard to get better at something if you ignore the parts you don't understand.^[8]
   
   • For example, if you’re learning to play the violin and understand major scales but struggle with minor scales, focus on learning a new minor scale with each practice instead of sticking solely to major scales.
   • Work on going out of your comfort zone and trying new things, even if they're difficult initially. You'll better understand the discipline by focusing on the most difficult concepts.
   • You might be confused and uncomfortable when practicing something unfamiliar. You might even fail at first. That's okay! Embrace each failure as a learning experience that teaches you what not to do in the future.

Get rid of distractions.

1. Removing any temptations makes you less likely to get sidetracked. Everyone knows the feeling of sitting down to work and being distracted by something else. It's totally normal, and thankfully, it's also avoidable. Before you do your learning for the day, find a place free of distractions, including phones, games, and TVs, and stay off of social media and email.^[9]
   
   • Avoid multitasking too, which makes you less productive overall. Dedicate all of your focus to learning that skill or concept for the entire study period.

Work in short bursts and take breaks.

1. Breaks improve focus because they give your mind a chance to rest. While it's tempting to keep working for hours until you see results, that's not an effective way to learn. Instead, give your brain frequent rests to process what it just learned. Use the Pomodoro technique: work on a project for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After doing that 4 times, take a bigger 30-minute break.^[10]
   
   • Mental fatigue can make it more difficult to absorb information and stick with a new skill. By taking frequent breaks, you're improving your productivity and preserving your motivation to learn.

Test yourself.

1. A test will show you how much of the material you remember. Quizzes aren't the most fun part of learning, but sometimes they're exactly what you need. Set up a test for yourself when you learn a new skill or concept. Find a practice exam online or draw up your own test and a rubric you can use to grade yourself. Testing shows you how well you've mastered the material thus far and what you might still need to work on.^[11]
   
   • You can also test skills that wouldn’t require a traditional exam, like skateboarding or drawing. Each time you learn a concept—like a skateboarding trick or a drawing technique—try it and then grade your performance.
   • Say you learned about the drawing technique cross hatching. Test yourself by creating a work of art shaded only with cross hatching. Then, evaluate the finished product. What did you do well? What could be improved?
   • The goal of testing is never to criticize yourself or your abilities—it’s to figure out where you can make progress and become the best that you can be.

Reward yourself at important milestones.

1. You'll gain more motivation if you reward yourself for progress. Set learning goals that you can reasonably accomplish, and then reward yourself when you accomplish each goal. Ensure your goals are incremental and allow small rewards along the way rather than waiting for one big prize at the end. When there's a concrete reason to pursue a goal, you're more likely to stick with it for the long haul!^[12]
   
   • For instance, you might aim to learn a new Mandarin character every day for a month. Celebrate at the end of the month by getting a treat from your favorite bakery or buying that game you want.

Master a skill you’re passionate about.

1. You’re more likely to keep learning when you truly enjoy the subject. Why not learn something that fascinates you, or chase a long-help passion? Think about the skills that have always interested you or made you think, "I wish I could do that!" Learning a new skill improves your mental well-being; it doesn’t have to be about career advancement. You can learn things purely for the joy of it.^[13]
   
   • For example, you might be hesitant to study guitar because you don't plan to be a musician, but that's no reason not to learn! Music is a great creative outlet and source of fun, no matter what.
   • There are lots of other fun skills you could learn. Consider drawing, learning a new language, singing, or dancing.
   • You could also learn practical skills that can help you with everyday life, like organization techniques, basic car repair, or making a budget.
   • So you may want to give that a try and see if it interests you!

Improve job-related skills to give yourself an edge.

1. Learning skills relevant to your job can help you excel in your career. Ask yourself what would make you a better candidate for a promotion. Coding ability? Writing skills? Foreign language fluency? Management training? Look for classes you can take or books you can read that'll give you a better understanding of your field. Ask your boss about what training the company offers and explain your goals to them.
   
   • Other skills that could make you an even more desirable employee include proficiency in search engine optimization, Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, and even typing.
   • Your company may even have funding available for certain skills you want to learn—then you can hone your abilities courtesy of your employer!
   • You could also learn a skill that allows you to start a side business. Many artists and creators take commissions while working other jobs; one day, you could even transition to being self-employed full-time.

Video

Related wikiHows

• Learn Something New Every Day
• Enjoy Learning
• Exercise an Open Mind

References

1. ↑ https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/10-ways-improve-transfer-learning/
2. ↑ https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/experiential-learning.shtml
3. ↑ https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/exoffenders/expand-skills/gain-skills.html
4. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/03/whats-the-right-way-to-find-a-mentor
5. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309524854_Effective_Educational_Videos_Principles_and_Guidelines_for_Maximizing_Student_Learning_from_Video_Content
6. ↑ https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/5-study-skills-and-techniques-for-students-who-want-to-succeed-in-college/
7. ↑ https://uafs.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-success-center/_documents/Create%20a%20Study%20Schedule%20and%20Stick%20to%20It.pdf
8. ↑ https://blogs.lib.umich.edu/student-stories/learning-new-skills
9. ↑ https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning/concentration
10. ↑ https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-short-breaks-help-brain-learn-new-skills
11. ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-research-backed-studying-techniques
12. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201912/9-key-principles-learning-new-skill
13. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/

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How to Define Your Personality

Determining how to define your personality can be challenging. But knowing what your personality is can help you understand yourself and others better. By defining your personality, you can think about the positive traits you possess that make you a good person, and reflect on traits that you may still need to work on. Everyone has positive and negative traits, and defining your personality can help you determine where you personally shine, and where you may still want to grow. You can easily define your personality if you determine how you describe yourself and explore some of the more popular and researched systems of defining personality.

Steps

Determining How You Describe Yourself

1. Make a list of your traits. Traits are the parts of you that don’t usually change much over time.^[1] They are characteristics about you that may be positive, while others might be a bit more negative. Your personality is the sum of all these traits and characteristics and is what makes you a unique person. Listing your traits can help you define your personality.
   
   • For example, you might write that you are sensitive, caring, stubborn, determined, ambitious, hard-working, and dependable.
   • Use words that describe how you think, behave, and feel in general.^[2]
   • For instance, you could include: calm, a night owl, sociable, a good planner, or helpful on your list. Look at lists of personality traits online that others have used to define themselves. See which ones are applicable to you, then add words of your own.
   • Include words that family and friends frequently use to describe you. For example, if they are always telling you that you’re comical, put it on the list. You may even ask family and friends to help you find descriptive words for yourself.
2. Examine your attitude and actions. Some studies suggest that your personality influences how you approach situations and your outlook on life.^[3] Other research suggests that personality traits influence behavior.^[4] So, look at your attitude and actions to understand how to define your personality.
   
   • Consider your attitude towards change. Write about a major change in your life. For example, you may write that you felt nervous and worried when you moved.
   • Think about how you handle challenges and obstacles. Then consider how likely you are to take risks, and how you respond to failure or set-backs. Write down the personality traits that come to mind.
   • For example, think about how you react when someone is rude to you. You might write, “I calmly tell them to stop and try to figure out what’s wrong.”
   • Think about the things you do. Would you describe them as individual activities or social?
   • For example, gardening, reading, and painting are individual activities. Social activities are things like team sports and participating in clubs and organizations.
   • Reflecting on your interactions is a great way to determine how you react to different things.
3. Pick three characteristics that summarize you. Think about three words that could be used to describe most of the things on your list. These three words will help you define your personality.^[5] Look over your list and find the words that could be used as synonyms, or to describe some of the other words.
   
   • For instance, ‘ambitious’ could be a word to summarize being determined, hardworking, and goal-oriented.
   • As another example, energetic, fun-loving, independent, and thrill-seeking could be described by the word ‘adventurous’.
   • Identify those three (no more than five) words that would tell someone about you in general if that was all they had to go on.
   • You might determine that you are outgoing, active, and easy-going, for example.

Using the Big Five to Define Your Personality

1. Try the Big Five to describe your personality.This popular and well-researched method, also called CANOE or OCEAN, categorizes your personality in terms of a combination of five areas or dimensions: conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism , openness, and extroversion. Using this system can help you define your personality using terms that have been researched and that many people understand.
   
   • For each trait, consider whether you would describe yourself as ‘high’ or ‘low’ on that dimension or more or less like that trait.
   • Compare your list of traits, attitudes, and behaviors to the descriptions of the Big Five personality types to help define your personality.
2. Determine how conscientious you are. If you’re highly focused on your goals, organized, detailed-oriented, considerate of your impact on others, and reliable you can consider yourself conscientious.^[6] Conscientious people are less impulsive and more deliberate in their actions and plans. On the other hand, you may be low in conscientiousness if you are more impulsive and spontaneous.
   
   • For example, if you’re more conscientious and are invited on a spur-of-the-moment vacation, you would think about how much it will cost or how it benefits you.
   • A less conscientious person would just go on the vacation without worrying so much about these things.
3. Examine how agreeable you are. You are likely to define yourself as agreeable if you are kind, helpful, trusting, or if you think about ways to bring people together and make things run smoothly.^[7] You might describe yourself as less agreeable, or disagreeable, if you are more skeptical and suspicious of people, and look out more for your own interests, or if you find that you often come into conflict with others.
   
   • If you tell yourself things like, “I can cut some of the tension in this situation and help us compromise” you are probably high in agreeableness.
   • Thinking things like, “They probably have a secret motive. I’ll just do what’s best for me” is characteristic of people that are more disagreeable.
4. Look for signs that you might be neurotic. Be honest and ask yourself if you are very emotional or sensitive, moody, or unpredictable and emotionally intense. If you cry frequently, apologize unnecessarily for things you do or say, or find friendly physical contact stressful, these may be signs that you are high in neuroticism. People that are lower in this dimension are calmer, less excitable, and more emotionally stable.
   
   • For instance, if everyday things like traffic jams or missing the bus completely ruin your mood and your day, you may be neurotic.
   • If you aren’t bothered by small nuisances and daily challenges, you are probably low on neuroticism.
5. Ask yourself if you are open to experiences. If you have an open personality, you are okay with change, like new experiences, and learning new things. You are flexible, view life as a chance to explore, and define your personality by your curiosity.^[8] You might be more closed if you are more conservative and prefer routine and tradition to new experiences.
   
   • If you say to yourself, “This is a chance to have a new experience that could turn into an epic adventure with amazing people” you are likely open.
   • If you would rather stick with the safe, conservative plan rather than try the risky one, you are probably more closed.
6. Decide if you are extroverted. You could define yourself as extroverted if you are outgoing, enjoy spending time with others, and like doing things in public. On the other hand, if you are more quiet, enjoy time alone, and less energetic you would define yourself as an introvert.
   
   • For example, you are extroverted if you think to yourself, “How can this be fun? What new people can I meet?” when your friend tells you about a party. You may be introverted if you would prefer to stay home and read or work on a craft project than go to the party.
   • Keep in mind that shyness and introversion are not the same. You may be good with others but prefer to be alone, or you may want to be social but struggle finding common ground. Look at your desire to be with others as an indicator.

Determining if You're Type A or Type B

1. Learn about Type A/B personalities. Defining people as either a Type A or a Type B personality is very popular, especially in the business world. This system of classifying personalities into one of two overall types also has research linking it to health and achievement.^[9] You can define your personality by finding out whether you are more a Type A person or more of a type B person.
   
   • Take an online personality type quiz like the Personality type A/B Test on the University of North Carolina Charlotte website.^[10] You may also look back on previous work evaluations or job feedback to give you an idea.
   • Compare your list of traits to the characteristics of Type A and B personalities. Look to see if you have more traits that are Type A or more that are Type B, keeping in mind that most people have traits that fit into each category.
   • Wondering if you’re Type A or Type B? Check out what users have to say on wikiHow’s “I thought I was a Type A person, but apparently I’m Type B” forum!
2. Identify your Type A personality traits. Type A personalities are generally successful, hard-working and very conscious of time. If this fits you and you are also competitive and goal-oriented, you may define yourself as a Type A personality.^[11]
   
   • Type A people are also often more hostile, stressed, anxious, and impatient compared to Type B people.
   • For example, if you tend to get very stressed and extremely upset when something makes you even a little late, you may be Type A.
   • Or, for instance, you might be Type A if you would skip a night out with your friends without a thought in order to finish a report.
   • Check your list of traits to see if you mentioned words like: hard-working, driven, busy, focused, or impatient to see if you are Type A.
3. Decide if you are more of a Type B personality. You may define yourself as Type B if you are more laid back, creative, and tolerant of others.^[12] Type B people are late more often than Type A, but also have less anxiety.
   
   • Look at your list of traits to see if you included: relaxed, easy-going, peaceful, not always reliable, or a good imagination.
   • Think about whether you usually procrastinate when you have assignments or work to do.
   • For example, would you rather play a game of basketball than work on a report that’s due?

Exploring Other Ways to Define Your Personality

1. Explore the Myers-Briggs system. This personality system is based on research by the psychologist Carl Jung and is widely used.^[13] The Myers-Briggs categorizes personality along four dimensions. Each dimension has two opposite preferences associated with it. Combining your preference from each of the four dimensions will define your personality according to one of 16 possible types.
   
   • The four dimensions are: introversion/extraversion (I/E); sensing/intuition (S/N); thinking/feeling (T/F); and judging/perceiving (J/P).
   • Compare your personal list of traits to your preferences on each of the four dimensions on the Myers-Briggs.
   • For example, does your list indicate you are more of an ‘I’ or an ‘E’? Do you have more words related to thinking or feeling?
   • You might, for instance, be a ISFP (introverted, sensing, feeling, perceiving) personality based on the traits on your list.
2. Find your Enneagram type. With this system of personality classification you define yourself according to nine different personality types.^[14] Although there is usually some overlap between the nine personality types within a person, most people are more similar to one type than the other eight.
   
   • Evaluate your list of traits to see if they can be described by one of the nine types of personality according to the Enneagram system.
   • Look for clues that you are mostly a: reformer, helper, achiever, individualist, investigator, loyalist, enthusiast, challenger, or peacemaker.
   • For example, if you see traits on your list like: mediator, problem-solver, and diplomatic you may be a peacemaker.
   • Visit http://www.enneagraminstitute.com to learn more about using this personality classification system.
3. Use the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. You can use this system to define your personality along four temperaments or types: the guardian, artisan, idealist, or rational. Similar to the Myers-Briggs and the Big Five, there is a great deal of research related to the Keirsey system.
   
   • Use your list of traits to help you determine which of the four personality types, or temperaments, is most like you.
   • For example, do you have traits on your personal list like imaginative, peaceful, and optimistic that suggest that you are an idealist?
   • Many people use their Myers-Briggs type along with their Keirsey temperament to define their personality.
   • You can also take a short form of the Keirsey Sort at http://www.keirsey.com.

Video

Tips

• No matter what type of personality you feel you have, you should always work on valuing yourself and your uniqueness.
• Don’t miss out on a great opportunity because something doesn’t fit how you define your personality.

Related wikiHows

• Have a Great Personality
• Develop a Good Personality
• Understand Your Personality

References

Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201605/what-the-5-major-personality-traits-mean-you
2. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/41313-personality-traits.html
3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201008/how-your-personality-shines-through
4. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791901/
5. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophie-frodsham/what-3-words-define-the-t_b_8483818.html
6. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/41313-personality-traits.html
7. ↑ http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2011/03/07/personality-matters.html
8. ↑ http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2011/03/07/personality-matters.html
9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/are-you-type-or-b-personality
10. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/type-a-vs-type-b-quiz
11. ↑ http://www.simplypsychology.org/personality-a.html
12. ↑ http://www.simplypsychology.org/personality-a.html
13. ↑ http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
14. ↑ https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/how-the-enneagram-system-works/

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How to Make Easter Eggs

Decorating Easter eggs is a great way to celebrate the holiday with family and friends of all ages. Dyeing is a traditional form of decorating, and you likely already have everything you need in your kitchen. Once you get basic dyeing down, you can take extra steps to add pizzazz to your finished product. You can also move away from dyeing and try your hand at molding chocolate Easter eggs. No matter how they turn out, you'll have delicious results!

Steps

Dyeing Easter Eggs

1. Leave your eggs in boiled water for 10 minutes to make hard-boiled eggs. Place the eggs in a pot on the stove. Add enough water to cover them by , and then bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. When it's boiling, cover the pot and take it off the heat. Set the pot aside for 10 minutes.^[1]
   
   • Once 10 minutes is up, put the eggs in an ice bath to cool.
2. Cover your table or work surface with newspaper. Dye can easily stain surfaces so protect the area with a thick layer of newspaper. You can also use paper towels, an old towel you don't mind staining, or even a trash bag in a pinch.^[2]
   
   
   
3. Add boiling water, vinegar, and food coloring to small bowls. Pour in of boiling water, of white vinegar, and 10 drops of food coloring for each bowl. Stir to combine.^[3]
   
   
   • Make each bowl a different color. You can do the primary colors just by adding 10 drops of red to a bowl, 10 drops of blue to another, and so on. You can also mix colors to get different shades, such as 4 drops of green and 6 drops of blue for a blue-green or 5 drops of red and 5 drops of blue for a purple.^[4]
   • If you want your colors to be more intense, add more drops of food coloring.^[5]
   • Adding vinegar to the water helps make the dye brighter!^[6]
4. Soak the eggs in the colors for 5 minutes or more. Use a spoon to dip the eggs into the dyed water. Let them soak for at least 5 minutes, turning them occasionally to make sure all sides get dyed.^[7] If you leave them in for longer, the colors will be darker.^[8]
   
   
   • You can also use tongs to hold the egg at an angle and only dye one side. Then, hold the other end in a different dye for a striped effect.
5. Dry the eggs off on paper towels or in the carton. Lay the eggs on paper towels so they can dry completely. You can also set them back into the carton to dry off, particularly if you have a cardboard carton.^[9]
   
   
   • If you're planning on eating the eggs, don't leave them out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.^[10]

Making Your Dyed Eggs More Interesting

1. Make tie-dye eggs by adding a splash of oil to the dye water. Pour in a spoonful of olive oil or other cooking oil in one of the bowls of dye. Mix it around and then lower in an egg. Roll it around for a few minutes so it picks up color in some areas but not others. After a few minutes, pull it out and dry it off.^[11]
   
   
   • You can also create a similar effect with vinegar, shaving cream or whipped cream, and food coloring. Soak the boiled eggs in vinegar for 2 minutes and then dry them off. Spread out shaving cream or whipped topping in a baking dish and sprinkle food coloring on top, adding several colors. Swirl the colors around with a toothpick and then roll the eggs in the colors. Let them sit for 10 minutes before washing the mixture off.^[12]
2. Add stickers or letters before dyeing the eggs. Put shapes or letters on the eggs in fun designs. Dip the eggs like you normally would. Peel them off when you're done dyeing and the eggs are dry. You'll have fun designs in white left behind surrounded by the dye color!^[13]
   
3. Draw on the eggs with a white crayon before dyeing them. Write fun sayings, draw shapes, or make zigzags all over the egg. You could also make polka dots! Once you're done, dye the eggs as you normally would, and the waxed area won't get dyed.^[14]
   
   
   • You can remove the wax if you want by holding the egg over a candle (not too close to the flame!) and then wiping the wax off.
4. Wrap rubber bands around the eggs to make stripes. Use wide and small rubber bands. Wrap them in around the eggs so they cross over each other and are fairly tight. Dye the eggs as you normally would. Once they're dry, take the rubber bands off, and you'll have white stripes in the dye.^[15]
   
   
5. Make natural dyes from spices and plants. Create natural dyes by adding of water and of vinegar to a pot. Then boil the mixture with spices or plants for 30 minutes to get your desired color.^[16]
   
   • For instance, use chopped beets for pink, chopped purple cabbage for blue, or yellow onion skins for orange. Add enough to fill the pot but still be submerged.
   • Four yellow, pour in 3 spoonfuls of turmeric.
   • When soaking the eggs in the dye, leave them for 30 minutes.

Molding Chocolate Eggs

1. Prepare your molds for the chocolate by polishing and oiling them. Rub the inside the molds with a bit of paper towel to get out any debris and smooth them out. Put a little flavorless kitchen oil on another small piece of paper towel. Smooth the oil lightly into the molds.^[17]
   
   
   • The oil will help the chocolate pop out.
2. Chop your chocolate into fine pieces. If you're using a chocolate bar, use a knife to cut it up into small pieces. Smaller pieces will melt more readily. You can also use small chocolate chips if you'd like.^[18]
   
   
   
3. Heat the chocolate over a double boiler. Place the chocolate in a heat-safe bowl that will sit on top of a pot. Put water in the bottom of the pot and set it on the stove with the bowl of chocolate on top. Bring the water to a simmer, stirring the chocolate on top to help it melt.^[19]
   
   
   • If you have a candy thermometer, heat the chocolate to .
   • You can also melt your chocolate by placing it in the microwave at 50% power for 15-30 seconds at a time, stirring well each time you heat it. Continue doing this until it's completely melted.
4. Let the chocolate cool once it's completely melted. Remove the bowl from the pot using kitchen gloves. Put it aside to cool. Don't let it cool all the way. It should be about body temperature when it's done.^[20]
   
   
   
   • If you have a thermometer, check for the chocolate to reach .
5. Add a large spoonful of chocolate to each half mold and swirl to coat. Move the mold around so that the chocolate coats the inside of the mold. If you need to, use a pastry brush to completely coat it.^[21]
   
   
   • Pour any extra chocolate back into the bowl.
6. Leave the eggs to cool for 20 minutes. This will allow the chocolate to harden in the mold before you add the next layer. Make sure they are laying on a flat surface.^[22] To speed up the process, you can stick them in the refrigerator for 5 minutes instead.^[23]
   
7. Clean the edge of the mold with a flat edge. Run a ruler or a table knife around the edge of the mold to make a smooth edge. This process will help the 2 halves of the egg fit together in a moment.^[24]
   
   
8. Add more layers in the same way before chilling for an hour. Pour in the chocolate and swirl it around. Let it cool and then clean the edge of the egg. Keep going for 2-3 layers so you have a nice, solid layer of chocolate in the egg.^[25]
   
   
   
   • Put them in the refrigerator to set for 1 hour.
9. Unmold the eggs and stick the 2 sides together using heat. Gently unmold the eggs so you don't break them. Put a baking sheet in the oven for a few minutes to heat up and then take it out once it's warm. Lay the eggs edge-side down on the pan for just a moment. Once you see they're melted a bit, pull the halves up and press them together to form the egg.^[26]
   
   
   • Work quickly as your body heat can melt the chocolate.
   • For extra fun, add surprises in the eggs like truffles or small candies.

Video

Things You'll Need

Dyeing Easter Eggs

• Eggs
• Pot
• Paper towels
• Newspaper
• Heatproof small bowls or jars
• Vinegar
• Food coloring
• Spoons
• Tongs, optional

Making Your Dyed Eggs More Interesting

• Oil, optional
• Whipped topping, optional
• Shaving cream, optional
• Food coloring, optional
• Stickers, optional
• Toothpick, optional
• White crayon, optional
• Rubber bands, optional

Molding Chocolate Eggs

• Egg-shaped molds
• Paper towels
• Oil
• Chocolate
• Knife
• Baking pan
• Double boiler

References

Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/hard-boiled-eggs-recipe-1973562
2. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/more-holidays/dye-easter-eggs
3. ↑ https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/easter-eggs-egg-dye-160383
4. ↑ [v162228_b01]. 16 July 2024.
5. ↑ [v162228_b01]. 16 July 2024.
6. ↑ http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/coloring-colorfastness-art-dyeing/
7. ↑ [v162228_b01]. 16 July 2024.
8. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/more-holidays/dye-easter-eggs
9. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/more-holidays/dye-easter-eggs
10. ↑ https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/easter-eggs-egg-dye-160383
11. ↑ https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/easter-eggs-egg-dye-160383
12. ↑ https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/easter/g2327/make-marbled-easter-eggs/
13. ↑ https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/easter-eggs-egg-dye-160383
14. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/to-dye-easter-eggs-241824
15. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/to-dye-easter-eggs-241824
16. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/easter-ideas/how-to/a31737/natural-easter-egg-dyes/
17. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891
18. ↑ https://www.jamieoliver.com/features/how-to-make-a-chocolate-egg/
19. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891
20. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891
21. ↑ https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/how-to-cook/how-to-make-an-easter-egg
22. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891
23. ↑ https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/how-to-cook/how-to-make-an-easter-egg
24. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891
25. ↑ https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/how-to-cook/how-to-make-an-easter-egg
26. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/homemadechocolateeas_4891

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