In a world where people often prioritize personal success and material wealth, the importance of being nice can sometimes be overlooked. It’s especially hard to find sometimes online, where there is a keyboard and miles of Wi-Fi hops between each other. However, being nice is not just about making others feel good - it also has profound effects on our own well-being. There are practical ways to be nicer and spread kindness in our daily lives as well as understand the benefits of being nice to help enrich each other’s lives.

Understanding To Be Nicer

Before we delve into how to be nicer, it’s crucial to understand what being nice means. Niceness is a character trait that involves being kind, considerate, and respectful to others. It’s about showing empathy, listening to others, and treating people with kindness, regardless of who they are or what they have done. So, what are five ways to be nicer?

Ways to Be Nicer

1. Practice Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. By putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we can better understand their perspective and respond in a kind and compassionate manner. That means asking ourselves, “what if it was me” going through whatever experience the other person is going through and then responding in a supportive manner.

2. Listen Actively

Active listening involves fully focusing on, understanding, and responding to a speaker. It’s a powerful way to show respect and understanding, making the speaker feel valued and heard. Active listening also means not being distracted by your smartphone, other conversations, or changing the subject while you give the speaker your full attention. Body language also matters as you leave your arms uncrossed, leaning slightly forward, having awareness over your facial expressions, and avoiding fidgeting.

3. Show Appreciation

Expressing gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to be nicer. Whether it’s thanking someone for their help or appreciating their positive qualities, showing appreciation can make a big difference in someone’s day. Find opportunities to say thank you, simple compliments, or even a smile and nod if someone holds a door open for you.

4. Be Respectful

Respect is a fundamental aspect of being nice. It involves acknowledging others’ rights, values, and beliefs, even if they differ from our own. You can be nice, even if someone has different views or beliefs than yourself, by demonstrating respect for your differences.

5. Help Others

Helping others, whether through small acts of kindness or larger deeds, is a direct way to be nicer. It not only benefits the recipient but also fosters a sense of community and connection.

Nice Begets Nice

Being nicer can take more time, awareness, and effort -- all things that sometimes we feel in short supply of. It’s not something that always comes naturally to everyone, especially with all the different challenges presented to us daily with money health, politics, education, the environment, inflation, shrinkflation, and even entertainment. We’re always looking for someone to blame, sometimes the wrong person just because they’re the easy target. Here’s a little life secret, if you don’t know it already…sometimes, good things take some work. Perhaps you’re even so angry that you think, why should I make someone else’s’ day better when my day sucks? Well, being nicer to others also has benefits for yourself. 

The Benefits of Being Nice

Being nice to others has numerous benefits, not just for the people we interact with, but also for our own well-being. Here are some key benefits:

1. Increases Happiness: Kindness has been shown to increase subjective well-being and improve mood. The more kind we are, the more we tend to feel positive emotions.

2. Boosts Social Relationships: People who show kindness are more likely to develop genuine connections with others and to feel content with their social networks.

3. Promotes Oxytocin: Oxytocin, commonly referred to as the love hormone, can support positive self-esteem. It helps us feel more joy and can also improve heart health by reducing stress.

4. Reduces Depressive Moods: Being kind to others can help you feel more self-confident and energetic, which can elevate your mood and help minimize feelings of depression.

5. Produces the “Helper’s High”: Researchers have shown that when we do good deeds for others, our brain’s pleasure and reward centers fire up. Being kind can create a rush of positive energy and uplift us.

6. Improves Support Networks: Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem.
7. Less Stress: When you are nice, you experience less stress.

8. More Energy: Being nice to others can give you more energy, as you’re not so drained by negativity.

9. Better Self-Perception: Being nice makes you feel better about yourself.

10. Healthier Life: Being nice to others can contribute to a healthier life.

Remember, every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a big difference. So, let's strive to be nicer and spread kindness wherever we go.

Find Your Nice

Being nicer is a choice that we can make every day. It requires empathy, active listening, appreciation, respect, and a willingness to help others. By choosing to be nicer, we can create a more compassionate, understanding, and kind world.

Remember, every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a big difference. So, let’s strive to be nicer and spread kindness wherever we go.

This is an opinion article by Guido Piraino of  The Monthly Social Podcast. It may also be heard on The Path Radio Mix Online. You can read other opinion articles on the blog page. You may also enjoy video content of The Monthly Social Podcast on YouTube or The Path Radio Mix on YouTube.  For sports content, please consider The Coach's Call YouTube Podcast.