5 Self Improvement Tips From Dexter Morgan

If you haven’t heard of the show Dexter that comes on Showtime every Sunday night at 9pm EST, now you have, and you have no excuse for not watching it (well, unless you don’t have showtime). Dexter is a show about a forensics specialist for the Miami PD who has a little problem: he likes to kill people. Dexter is a serial killer with one exception… he only kills killers.

The show is much more complex than that general idea, but that was enough for me to start watching, and I’m glad I did. So what does Dexter have to do with self improvement? Well, Dexter happens to have some really good habits. While I don’t recommend taking justice into your own hands, if we could apply Dexter’s habits to our everyday lives, I think they’d improve.

1. Be Neat and Organized

Dexter is very meticulous and organized when it comes to killing his victims. He has a time tested routine that is very efficient and that he has perfected. This came from being consistent and trying different things until he got it right.

2. Be Good With People (Even Under Extreme Stress)

Dexter’s entire identity as a serial killer depends on his ability to form relationships with people that present him as a normal person. Now, I don’t believe you should try to be something you’re not, but you should cultivate relationships that will improve your life. Dexter is amazing at this. Even when he’s on the verge of getting caught, he has this amazing ability to relate to and communicate with people effectively.

3. Be Motivated. Extremely Motivated

Motivation is one of the most talked about topics in personal development and we could all learn about motivation from Dexter. While his passion isn’t exactly something you should acquire, if Dexter’s motivation to kill was instilled in our motivations (for heath, career, relationships etc.) we would definitely excel.

4. Be an Expert at What You Do

Dexter knows so much about what he does. He is a blood splatter expert with an emphasis on expert. A lot of scenes are dedicated to him explaining a crime scene he wasn’t present at and it’s amazing how accurate they are. He’s passionate about his work and he loves it. Isn’t that what we all want?

5. Be Able to Adapt Well

This goes a long well with Dexter’s ability to be good with people under stress. Because of his other abilities, he’s able to adapt well to almost any situation. He knows what he wants, and he knows what to do when he doesn’t get it the way he planned. We could all use some of Dexter’s adaptation skills.

You might not think it’s a good idea to learn personal development from a serial killer, but you can apply these attributes to your life. I don’t recommend killing anyone, but replace Dexter’s killers with your goals in life.

Check out the Dexter promo, and if you’re already a fan, you’ll be happy to know that the show has been approved for 2 more seasons.

Are there any characters in shows, movies or books that inspire you to improve yourself? List them in the comments and let me know.