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

The Difference Between Being Kind And Being Nice

What do your motivations say about your actions?

10868
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.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

512
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

320
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199269
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20311
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments