The Difference Between Being Kind And Being Nice
Start writing a post
Relationships

The Difference Between Being Kind And Being Nice

What do your motivations say about your actions?

10858
The Difference Between Being Kind And Being Nice
Orgspring

Throughout the course of our lives, we all have opportunities to decide who we are and how we want to treat people. One of the biggest decisions that we have to make is whether or not we want to live our lives for others or for ourselves.

There is a striking difference between a person who is kindand a person who is nice. We live in a day in age where saying someone is nice has become one of the most commonly heard compliments, but you rarely ever hear someone say that someone else is kind. In doing so, we have slowly begun to forget the importance of being truly, deeply, kind to one another.

Nice by definition is someone who is pleasant, someone who does the right thing. Kindness is a heart change. It is dependent on your character as a whole and not defined by your outward actions.

Niceis the friend who calls you when they hear something bad happened, to make sure you are alright.Kind is the person who silently prays for you, and continues to make sure you're okay without being prompted, even after all the craziness has calmed down.

Kind is person who does kind things without the hope of getting recognition. Nice is the person who needs recognition in order to feel they did nice things.

Nice is the friend who tells you that they think your significant other is great even though they know otherwise. Kind is the friend who tells you the truth even if it means hurting you.

Niceness is something that can be faked. It is something that can be impure and done with an impure mind. Whereas, kindness comes from the goodness of your heart. It is something you do on a daily basis. It is a way of life, a personality trait. It is something that is done out of selflessness.

There is nothing wrong with being nice. But nice stops after the initial good deed. It is a trait that comes and goes. It is something that you can choose to do when the going gets easy, but refuse to do when the going gets tough.

Focus on the motivation of the two actions; it is easy to see that a person who is nice is externally motivated. They are motivated by the way their actions appear and benefits that it will bring them.

A person who is kind is internally motivated. They choose to focus on doing the right thing, rather than what doing the right thing will do for them. They are filled with a need to be generous and helpful towards others with little concern as to what this generosity will bring to them.

Kindness isn't always easy. Sometimes it means being honest when you don't want to be, rather than lying to spare someone's feelings. Sometimes it means you have to be the bad guy, or show tough love towards someone to help them understand that whatever they're doing is not good for them. A kind person doesn't always get the acknowledgment they deserve, but recognizes that being kind was all the recognition that they need.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70858
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132450
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments