Often times we think our religious beliefs automatically make us a good person or put us above others. 10/10 times, this isn’t true. What religion we are or aren’t a part of doesn’t mean anything in whether we consider ourselves to be a good person.

What we do, though, means everything.

How we treat others matters. They say that how you make others feel about themselves says a lot about who you are. We should be treating others how they want to be treated, not how we want to be treated. Each person is different and it’s essential to recognize and respect that.

How we speak and act matters. Especially when there are people who admire and look up to you. (Which there are, trust me.) Give more compliments, speak kindly of others, and help out when you can.

Our motivation and ambition to conquer the world matters. The goals we set for ourselves and how we accomplish those goals shows who we are as a person. If we are using people to get to the top, that shows, just like working hard to accomplish something shows.

Genuine interactions matter. How you approach people, what you say, how you say it, it all needs to be genuine—real, sincere, honest. Only say what you mean and be considerate of others.

As someone who grew up going to church and considers herself to be religious, I don’t think that I am any better of a person than my friends who aren’t religious. What I learned going to church and believing in God has given me a set of morals and standards and has provided me with the knowledge of right or wrong, but what I do with those standards and knowledge is what makes me who I truly am.

So, the next time you think you’re a good person because of your religion, really think again and think about all the people who are doing awesome things that aren’t a part of a religion. While religion is something that can influence your way of life, it isn’t something that automatically makes you a good person.