6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person

Cracked.com published 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person at the end of 2012, but it’s a great message as we get ready for a new year.

For the rest of you, I want you to try something: Name five impressive things about yourself. Write them down or just shout them out loud to the room. But here’s the catch — you’re not allowed to list anything you are (i.e., I’m a nice guy, I’m honest), but instead can only list things that you do (i.e., I just won a national chess tournament, I make the best chili in Massachusetts). If you found that difficult, well, this is for you, and you are going to fucking hate hearing it. My only defense is that this is what I wish somebody had said to me around 1995 or so.

This is one of the best and most direct articles I read in 2013. It’s not for the faint of heart or people that like participation trophies. It’s only for people that are going to do something, not think about doing something, actually getting up and doing it.

Because that’s the step that gets skipped — it’s always “How can I get a job?” and not “How can I become the type of person employers want?” It’s “How can I get pretty girls to like me?” instead of “How can I become the type of person that pretty girls like?” See, because that second one could very well require giving up many of your favorite hobbies and paying more attention to your appearance, and God knows what else. You might even have to change your personality.