How to Choose a Role Model

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 00:20

Role models are important. They help us become the person we want to be and inspire us to make a difference. Choosing wisely means that you will be positively influenced and encouraged to be the best person possible. Choosing a role model...

Table of contents

Role models are important. They help us become the person we want to be and inspire us to make a difference. Choosing wisely means that you will be positively influenced and encouraged to be the best person possible. Choosing a role model in your personal life is different than choosing a celebrity role model but by following a few steps you can choose the best people to fill these roles in your life.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing a Role Model That You Know

A role model that you know can help you to mature and grow as a person. They can give guidance and advice and offer real-world examples of how to achieve your best.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

These are the things you do not like or want to change about yourself and are important in determining how you wish to change.

Advertisement

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Do you want to live in a certain way? Achieve something in particular? Become a certain kind of person? Make a list of the things you want to achieve, both as a person and in your life.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

As you start to consider how you can choose a role model, try to develop faith in yourself as a person. The goal of choosing a role model is to motivate you to become a better person. You must have confidence in yourself and your abilities to become whoever you wish to be.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

If you want to be an inspirational person, think about the people who inspire you. Do a little brainstorming. Why do you admire them so much? What is the message they send through their actions?
Great role models may exist all around you. These people may have a more profound impact on you and might even be able to mentor you, making them great potential choices as your role model.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

A good role model would be someone who knows who they are. You don't want someone who seems perfect but doesn't have a sense of purpose. You want someone who won't pretend to be someone they are not.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Your role model should be someone who thinks it is all right to be unique, even if that means accepting some ridicule. They should always make you feel positive and good about being yourself.
The purpose of having a role model is to encourage and inspire you to improve yourself. If your choice of role model does not make you feel this way then it is best to choose another.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

This person should be kind and can communicate well with people. People are easy to understand and emulate when they communicate well.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is better to choose a role model who exhibits reliable competence and who has gained their position through dedication and hard work. Often the flashy people who have succeeded spectacularly are those who took big risks and got lucky, rather than those who are the most skilled. It is better to choose a role model who works hard and consistently for their success.^{[1] X Trustworthy Source Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Official peer-reviewed and multidisciplary journal for the National Academy of Sciences. Go to source}
Choosing a top performing role model can actually discourage and demotivate you because it is hard to emulate their spectacular performance unless you also get lucky.^{[2] X Research source}

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

We are all tempted to choose a certain role model because we see something of ourselves in them. These role models will only hold you back because you are not really changing any characteristics of yourself, you are simply perfecting characteristics that are already there. Choose a role model because you see something in them that you are ‘’not’’ but definitely need to be.

Emulating a role model who is not like you will not feel comfortable or natural but it will stretch you and motivate you to levels of yourself you thought you never knew.

Choose a role model you would not normally consider emulating.

For example, if you are bold and spontaneous, choose someone who is steady and known for thorough analysis.^{[3] X Research source}

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

It is important to learn about both the successes and failures of your role model. Sometimes learning about the failures of your role model can actually encourage and motivate you more than learning about their successes. By learning about their failures you realize that they, like you, are only human and will make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and keep working to improve yourself.
For example, even famous scientists such as Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein struggled and failed many times in their lives but they kept working hard to achieve and eventually they were successful. By learning about their struggles you can motivate yourself to keep working hard even when nothing seems to be working.^{[4] X Research source}

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Choose someone that you know and observe succeeding in life in a way that resonates with your moral values and beliefs for your role model. A role model should be someone that you admire in all aspects of their life and leads a healthy lifestyle.^{[5] X Expert Source Jennifer Butler, MSW
Life Coach Expert Interview. 31 July 2020.}

Look for qualities such as passion and the ability to inspire, a clear set of values, a commitment to community, selflessness and acceptance of others and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Your core values are the things you're most passionate about, or things that matter the most to you. Try to find a role model who really aligns with those values.^{[6] X Expert Source Jennifer Butler, MSW
Life Coach Expert Interview. 31 July 2020.}

Most people have about 4-5 core values.^{[7] X Expert Source Jennifer Butler, MSW
Life Coach Expert Interview. 31 July 2020.}

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Everyone makes mistakes, including those you have chosen as your role models. Your role models are simply there as a guide for you and not someone to imitate exactly. Do not follow them blindly.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

While it is good to emulate a role model, it is also important to retain your individuality. Do not lose yourself in the attempt to follow the example of your role model. Adopt the characteristics you would like most to improve about yourself while keeping the rest of you as you are.
Be yourself and feel confident in what you do. Don't copy what others are doing, stand out. If people copy it just proves that they're insecure and not original unlike you!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Choosing a Celebrity Role Model

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

A hero will usually be someone who excels in certain areas of their life. You will learn about this person through the media rather than personal observation.

Step 2 Identify all your best characteristics.

What are your strengths? What do you do well? These are the characteristics that you want to nourish and hold on to but not necessarily the ones you would want to look for in a role model. Ponder your strengths and develop an image of who you are and who you want to be.

Step 3 Identify your bad habits, or negative aspects of your personality.

These are the things you do not like or want to change about yourself and are important in determining how you wish to change.

Step 4 Make a list of the key characteristics that you want to achieve.

Do you want to live in a certain way? Achieve something in particular? Become a certain kind of person? Make a list of the things you want to achieve, both as a person and in your life.

As you start to consider how you can choose a role model, try to develop faith in yourself as a person. The goal of choosing a role model is to motivate you to become a better person. You must have confidence in yourself and your abilities to become whoever you wish to be.

Step 6 Identify people who have done something you find admirable.

This can include someone who has raised a lot of money for charity, saved lots of lives, helped people in need or discovered the cure for a disease. Find someone who has good characteristics that you don't have (yet!).

Step 7 Remember that only deities are perfect.

Don't expect any role model to be perfect; they may make mistakes. For example, you can choose a role model for their achievements without emulating their personal life.

This is very important when choosing a celebrity role model, especially for kids, because many celebrities may not lead personal lives that you want yourself or your kids to emulate.

Step 8 Look for someone who is living life the way you would like to.

If you want to be a famous author, your role model could be someone who has been successful at writing. If you have always wanted to be a nurse, your role model could be someone at your local hospital who is dedicated to their job and someone who you look up to for their achievements.

Step 9 Learn about their successes and failures.

It is important to learn about both the successes and failures of your role model. Sometimes learning about the failures of your role model can actually encourage and motivate you more than learning about their successes. By learning about their failures you realize that they, like you, are only human and will make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and keep working to improve yourself.

For example, even famous scientists such as Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein struggled and failed many times in their lives but they kept working hard to achieve and eventually they were successful. By learning about their struggles you can motivate yourself to keep working hard even when nothing seems to be working.^{[8] X Research source}

Step 10 Learn about their personal faults.

Many celebrities do not live personal lives that should be modeled and emulated. You should make sure to examine how these personal faults affect them and their career. Know that many celebrities can get away with things without many consequences due to their fame and/or money. Recognizing these faults can help you avoid developing bad habits by following your role models.

Step 11 Do not copy your role model completely.

Everyone makes mistakes, including those you have chosen as your role models. Your role models are simply there as a guide for you and not someone to imitate exactly. Do not follow them blindly.

While it is good to emulate a role model, it is also important to retain your individuality. Do not lose yourself in the attempt to follow the example of your role model. Adopt the characteristics you would like most to improve about yourself while keeping the rest of you as you are.

Be yourself and feel confident in what you do. Don't copy what others are doing, stand out. If people copy it just proves that they're insecure and not original unlike you!

Warnings

Make sure to remember that people are imperfect.

Thanks
Helpful 54 Not Helpful 1
Some poorly chosen role models may take advantage of their position and push you to do things to make you look bad or have a very bad influence on others. Make sure that you don't follow one of these types of role models and never emulate someone without thought.

Thanks
Helpful 37 Not Helpful 8