If you really want to become a better person in 2025, say goodbye to these 8 behaviors

What if I told you that the biggest thing standing between you and your best self in 2025 isn’t a lack of time, talent, or resources—it’s you?

Let’s be real: we’ve all set goals, read the books, and maybe even invested in a seminar or two, only to feel stuck months later.

Sometimes it’s not about what you’re doing but what you’re still holding onto. Maybe it’s old habits, fear of failure, or the comfort of familiarity.

It’s tough to let go, especially when it feels like change will hurt. But identifying and releasing what’s holding you back is the key to unlocking your potential.

Ready to make 2025 the year you finally move forward?

1) Failing to take responsibility

Let’s be honest, it’s so easy to blame others for what’s going wrong in our lives.

You know, the boss who doesn’t appreciate you, the partner who doesn’t understand you, or the friend who lets you down.

It’s a convenient and comfortable way to avoid looking in the mirror and acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, you had a part to play in all those situations too.

If you’re always playing the victim and failing to take responsibility for your actions, you’re not going to see much growth.

Why? Because it means you’re not learning from your mistakes or taking steps to change your behavior.

Admitting you’re wrong can hurt, but it’s necessary if you want to become a better person in 2025. So, say goodbye to blaming others and start owning your actions and decisions. It’s one of the first steps towards becoming the person you want to be.

Believe me, taking responsibility for your life is liberating. You’ll feel more in control of your destiny and less at the mercy of external circumstances. And that’s a powerful place to be.

2) Being overly critical

I vividly remember one day when I made a small mistake at work and instead of acknowledging it and learning from it, I went down a spiral of self-criticism. “Why can’t you do anything right?”, “You’re so incompetent”, and “Others wouldn’t have made such a mistake” – these were the harsh words I told myself.

But guess what, being overly critical doesn’t help anyone, let alone yourself. It just pulls you down into a pit of negativity from which it’s hard to emerge.

If you want to become a better person in 2025, you need to let go of this behavior. Learn to treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just like you would do with a close friend.

Yes, acknowledge your mistakes, but also remember to applaud your efforts and the progress you make every day.

3) Neglecting self-care

Audrey Hepburn once said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”

But what happens when you’re always extending that second hand and neglecting the first one? I’ll tell you what – burnout, exhaustion, and resentment.

Often, we are so caught up in our responsibilities towards others – be it our job, family, or friends – that we forget to take care of ourselves. We push our needs and wants to the back burner, thinking we’re being selfless or noble.

But here’s the thing – neglecting self-care isn’t noble. It’s self-sabotage. If you’re not physically, mentally, and emotionally well, how can you expect to be there for others or strive towards becoming a better person?

It’s time to say goodbye to neglecting self-care. Start prioritizing your needs. Take that break. Eat healthily. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly.

Remember, it’s not selfish to care for yourself. It’s necessary. Only when you’re at your best can you truly help others.

4) Living in the past

Did you know that you can’t change the past but you can definitely ruin the present by worrying about the future?

Sounds simple, but so many of us get caught up in the regrets of the past or anxiety about the future that we forget to live in the present.

We replay old mistakes over and over in our heads, beating ourselves up about what we should have done differently. Or we stress about future problems that haven’t even happened yet.

But here’s the catch – while we’re busy dwelling on the past or fretting about the future, we’re missing out on what’s happening right now.

Start being present, living each moment fully.

Appreciate the here and now. Recognize and seize opportunities as they come. Learn from your past, plan for your future, but live in your present.

Trust me, you’ll start noticing a positive change not just in your mental state but also in your overall quality of life. Because being present is the key to truly enjoying life and becoming a better person.

5) Comparing yourself to others

We live in a world where everyone’s best life is on display, thanks to social media. It’s easy to scroll through your feed and start feeling like everyone else is doing better than you.

But here’s the truth – comparison is a thief of joy. It can make you feel inadequate and dissatisfied with your own progress.

Instead of looking at what others are doing, focus on your own path. Celebrate your small victories. Acknowledge your progress.

Your only competition should be with yourself – strive to be better than you were yesterday. This shift in mindset can do wonders for your self-esteem and overall personal growth.

Every person you compare yourself to is probably dealing with their own struggles and insecurities. So focus on becoming the best version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.

6) Holding onto grudges

We all have been hurt by others at some point in our lives. Maybe you were betrayed by a friend, overlooked at work, or wronged by a family member. It’s natural to feel hurt and angry.

But holding onto those grudges doesn’t hurt the person who wronged you. It hurts you. It’s like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go. It weighs you down and prevents you from reaching your potential.

Time to learn the art of forgiveness.

It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or saying that it was okay. It simply means deciding to let go of the anger and resentment for your own peace of mind.

When you forgive, you free yourself from the chains of the past and open yourself up to positive experiences and relationships.

Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. It’s an essential step on your journey to becoming a better person in 2025.

7) Avoiding discomfort

It’s human nature to seek comfort. We like routines, familiar environments, and predictable outcomes. But growth often happens outside our comfort zones.

Think about it – learning a new skill, starting a challenging project, or having difficult conversations can all be uncomfortable. But they also push us to grow and evolve.

It’s time to say goodbye to avoiding discomfort. Start embracing challenges and seeking out new experiences.

It may feel awkward and scary at first. You might even fail. But that’s okay. Because every failure is a step closer to success, and every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

8) Neglecting personal growth

We often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we forget to invest time and effort in our own growth and development. We might be busy, but are we growing?

If you want to become a better person in 2025, it’s time to say goodbye to neglecting personal growth. Make it a priority to learn, evolve and improve.

Read that book you’ve always wanted to. Take that online course. Attend that seminar. Invest in yourself.

Personal growth is not a destination, it’s a journey. And on this journey, every step you take towards learning and self-improvement gets you closer to becoming the best version of yourself.

The only person you need to be better than is the person you were yesterday. And every day is a chance to learn something new, to improve, and to take another step towards becoming a better person.

In conclusion

If you’ve found yourself nodding along with these behaviors, don’t fret. Acknowledging these behaviors is the first step towards change.

The journey to becoming a better person is not about perfection, but about progress. It’s about slowly letting go of habits that no longer serve us and adopting new ones that propel us towards our best selves.

Start by reflecting on these behaviors. Which ones resonate with you the most? Are there areas in your life where you’ve been holding yourself back? How could you start making changes today?

Remember, small steps can lead to big results. Don’t rush the process. Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time. Every small decision to let go of a limiting behavior brings you one step closer to the person you aspire to be.

And as you embark on this transformative journey, remember to celebrate your wins, no matter how small they may seem. Each victory is a testament to your resilience and commitment to personal growth.

So here’s to the journey ahead. To the lessons you’ll learn, the changes you’ll make, and the person you’ll become in 2025.