10 Qualities That I Admire In Others

These are 10 qualities that I admire in other people. They are in order or priority, although that order can change from day-to-day, as circumstances dictate.

1. Compassion: Compassion isn’t the same thing as empathy. It’s more than understanding someone else’s feelings. Compassion is selfless caring for another. Compassion requires action. That’s why it tops my list.
   
   
   
2. Humility: I’ve seen first hand the power of humility. The people who are best with other people exercise humility. They treat all human beings with kindness and compassion, regardless of their station in life.
3. Grit: People who tough out adversity by clenching their teeth and fighting through it are admirable. They don’t let adversity prevent them from succeeding; they use adversity as fuel. Their intestinal fortitude is enviable.
4. Game: Some people are willing to give it a go. It doesn’t matter all that much what “it” is. They’re willing to try, even if they don’t know what they’re doing, and even if they recognize they’ll be way out over their skis. The courage to try is praise-worthy.
   
   
   
5. Loyalty: The trust that someone will be there for you, that they’ll do right by you no matter what is a special quality. It’s even more so in an age where more and more relationships are transactional. Knowing you can count on someone, that they are faithful, is a quality worth emulating.
6. Strength: It takes strength to stay true to your beliefs. It takes strength to say “no.” Strength is what allows those who have it to stand firm when it would be easier to bend (or break). The strength of character is what allows one to be true to themselves and others.
7. Thoughtfulness: Thinking enough about someone else to do something nice—and maybe unexpected—is a too rare quality, and something worth developing. It’s old school, and it leaves a strong impression on who you really are.
8. Sense of Humor: The ability to make people laugh is a super power. The ability to relieve the tension in the room through humor or connect with others can improve the outcome in different situations. It’s especially powerful when it isn’t forced. Self-deprecating humor is even more so.
   
   
9. Comfortable In Their Own Skin: People who are comfortable in their own skin have a high enough emotional intelligence to realize what they are and are comfortable with that fact. The ability not to take stock in anyone’s judgment or opinion about who they are is estimable.
10. Duty: The sense of responsibility to someone or something. This is the quality of “owning it” and doing impeccable work beyond anything that is expected of you. This is a too rare quality, and that’s what makes it noteworthy.