How can I improve my character?

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Poverty brings about excruciating hardship. While many can maintain their happiness by focusing on appreciating their relationships with their neighbours and their family, as I've witnessed firsthand in my mother's village, poverty inevitably hinders many from experiencing a higher degree of satisfaction, happiness and self-worth. It's devastating to know that people just like myself are forced to endure such standards of living. Rather than merely feel sympathy for these people, I seek to dedicate my life towards helping these people using my skills and money alongside developing a career. I fear that I lack a certain degree of selflessness, patience, strength and sincerity that would be required to compassionately give a large portion of my time and resources to people in need. I feel that I need to have excellent character to be as giving as I seek to be. Currently, I've been volunteering to get me started on giving back. I want to be a better person. I never want to face a situation in where I regret my decision to help certain people who have chosen to exercise their freedom by selling drugs or living a life of extravagance. Everybody has a right to lead the life they seek - I want to avoid controlling the path these people take. Strengthening my faith in God could certainly help me. Meditating could also work as well as continuing my volunteering efforts. What other ways could change my perspective by assisting in reducing feelings of selfishness, the desire to enforce a certain way of living along with impatience? I truly want to be sincere in giving back and have a long way to go.