Have you ever met someone that you felt was too nice? Do you feel that “being nice” is bad? Why does society feel that being nice is something that we should look upon as negative? As someone who has been accused of being “too nice” I struggle to understand why being “too nice” is even an issue.
For me, it is how I greet the world. I often looked for the good in others, even when it is a struggle to find the good. I feel kindness goes a long way in brightening someone’s day and helps me feel happier too.
My goal every day is not to be “too nice” but to help make another person’s day better. Research has shown that repeated acts of kindness:
Has positive effects on the brain.
Makes you happier.
Actually helps you live longer.
Inspires others to be kind.
Improves your health.
Betters your relationships.
Helps heal you.
Kindness can change lives and create a ripple effect among your community. We have all heard the community stories of a local coffee shop that starts with one person buying a stranger a cup of coffee and the kindness multiplies throughout the day with the stranger, then buying the next person a cup of coffee and the cycle continues. What a small act of kindness, but if you are the person that received this kindness, it makes your day.
I also can have my day change from just okay to amazing with a simple smile or hello from someone while I am out and about. There was a time in my early 20’s where I ran out of gas and a stranger stopped to help. When I offered to send them a check, they said to me, pay it forward. That has stuck with me and I have paid it forward more than once. We all need human connection, take that small moment to help our fellow humans.
It is important that you are also kind to yourself. You need to value how important you are and love yourself. I agree, this one is tough! We have been raised to self-judge and beat ourselves up for the smallest infractions. Remember you are human and you are doing the best you can.
Treat yourself with generosity, compassion and kindness. I have started a daily positive mantra with myself. I begin my day with a positive thought for myself such as “Be patience and trust yourself. You are loved.” I say this to myself, throughout the day and end the day with a quiet meditation with my mantra and thankfulness for the day. I change the mantra from day to day, but I always include self-love and care.
This quote from Scott Adams holds true for me, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” In the world we are living today, we need to make kindness a habit that we travel and share with others through our life journey.
I don’t want to just leave you with the quote above, I want to share these wise words from Mother Theresa, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Go out and create your ripple in the world and include yourself in kindness.