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Be Gracious

People who are gracious treat others with the tact, kindness, and respect that they deserve. They put others first and care more about listening than talking all the time. They give their time, their love, and their efforts toward causes that improve the lives of people in need, whether they are suffering friends or perfect strangers. It’s not always easy to be gracious in a world that can quickly frustrate you, but if you make an effort to have more grace in your everyday life, then you can start changing for the better. Here’s how to do it.

 One of the most important qualities of a gracious person is the ability to thank people for their efforts, however big or small they were. Even if a co-worker is just calling you to tell you something, thank him or her for making the effort. If someone is asking you to donate money on the street, thank them for trying, even if you say no. If a friend picks up coffee or reminds you that your favorite show is coming on later, say thank you
Gracious people are other-driven, not self-driven, and they care more about other people than they care about themselves. Make an effort to really hear what people are saying to you, to make eye contact, and to put away any distractions, like your phone, which may keep you from fully giving people the attention that they need. Don’t interrupt people and hold your questions or comments to the end so they can finish saying what they have to say and feel like you really care about them.

Being gracious means paying attention to people in social situations. Instead of worrying about how you come off or what you should say next, you should watch other people to have a sense of their moods, to see if they are worried or anxious, and to understand how they interact with each other. Though it’s good to be self-aware enough to be tactful, respectful, and kind, it’s equally important to notice what other people are thinking and feeling