A person who is controlled by “the old personality” generally thinks and acts in a fleshly way. (Col. 3:9) He may be selfish, prone to anger, unthankful, and proud. He may enjoy viewing pornographic material and watching immoral or violent movies. No doubt he has some good qualities, and he may feel guilty about the bad things he says or does. But he lacks the motivation to change his thinking and conduct. (Gal. 5:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:2-5) We are imperfect, so none of us can completely remove all bad thoughts and desires from our heart and mind. At times, we will do or say something that we will regret. (Jer. 17:9; Jas. 3:2) But when we strip off the old personality, fleshly attitudes and practices no longer control us. They no longer identify who we are as a person.​—Isa. 55:7. w22.03 3 ¶4-5

Elders, look for the good qualities that your brothers and sisters possess. Each one is imperfect; yet, each one has qualities we can admire. True, elders may from time to time need to adjust the thinking of a brother or a sister. But like the apostle Paul, elders should strive to look beyond a person’s irritating words and actions. Instead, they do well to focus on that individual’s love for Jehovah, his endurance in serving God, and his potential for doing good. Elders who have a positive view create a warm and nurturing environment in the congregation. Remember that Jehovah is not asking you to be perfect; he is asking you to be faithful. (1 Cor. 4:2) You can be sure that God also values what you do in his service. Jehovah will never “forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones.”​—Heb. 6:10. w22.03 31 ¶19, 21

What made Timothy a useful servant of Jehovah? His outstanding Christian qualities. (Phil. 2:19-22) From the apostle Paul’s description of Timothy, we can see that he was humble, loyal, diligent, and dependable. He cared deeply about the brothers. As a result, Paul loved Timothy and did not hesitate to entrust him with challenging assignments. Similarly, we endear ourselves to Jehovah and are more useful to the congregation when we cultivate qualities that he loves. (Ps. 25:9; 138:6) So prayerfully consider which aspects of your personality need improvement. Select one specific quality that you would like to focus on. Could you cultivate greater empathy? Do you need to be more peaceable and forgiving? You may find it helpful to ask a trusted friend to suggest ways you could improve.​—Prov. 27:6. w22.04 23 ¶4-5