There are various ways to be a nicer person and this is not automatic to everyone. Some people due to trauma of the past and various challenges in life have been drained of niceties and have become somewhat cynical.
Being nice is one of the most remarkable ways of showing love to people and yourself. While some people are naturally friendly, others have to learn how to be nicer.
Also, there are different ways to be nice to yourself, people, or your environment. While being nice may seem like an easy thing to do, it often requires conscious efforts to achieve it.
In this article, you will learn how to be a nicer person and a few tips on how being nice works. That said, below are twenty ways on how to be a nicer person:
20 Ways To Be A Nicer Person
Not everyone is pleasant to be around and this could affect your ability to maintain relationships with others as people gravitate towards people with positive traits.
Being nice to others is a positive trait and should not be confused with manipulation or faking it to seem pleasant.
For someone not naturally nice to others, it is a skill can be gradually groomed until you are pleasant to be around.
I will be pointing out some helpful tips that could help with treating others better than you usually do.
1. Start Each Day With Positive Affirmations
Start each day by saying positive things to yourself. When you wake up each morning, tell yourself that you are good enough to achieve whatever you want.
For example, “I can do this,” “I am going to try my best to be nice to everyone I come across today,” “I am going to put a smile on people’s faces as I step out this morning .”
By saying these things to yourself, you can achieve your objectives. Positive affirmations are an effective means of releasing negative energy from your life. They also help you see the best in other people.
For example, telling yourself how awesome you are can not only help you become more confident but can also help you see the awesomeness of others.
For more positive quotes and affirmations to boost being nice to others, check out this compilation of positive quotes when helping others.
2. Be Sympathetic Towards Others
In learning how to be a nicer person, you have to show compassion and sympathy to others. Sometimes, people around you face difficult situations or go through tragic experiences.
When you are aware of such events, you have to show sympathy. This goes a long way to make them feel that you care about them and wish them the best.
You can show sympathy by sending gifts, flowers, or even words of encouragement to the individual affected.
However, the best way to show that you care is to be physically present as often as possible.
Your presence — along with the words of encouragement you offer — can help them feel safer and better. By doing that, they will appreciate how much of a nice person you are to them.
3. Utilize The “Pay It Forward” Principle Always
The “Pay-It-Forward” principle is perhaps one of the most humane forms of showing kindness and being nice. This principle, though simplistic, can be a little bit difficult to implement.
However, when you use it, it provides one of the best feelings ever and shows a great act of love. The world works in a way that people expect others to pay them back when they do something significant for them.
I want to call this “The Favor For Favor” principle. However, this isn’t often the case. Sometimes when we display a random act of kindness to people, we do not expect them to pay us back.
Instead, we expect them to extend our kind deeds to others, not us. This is how the “Pay-It-Forward” works.
4. Show Kindness To Others Routinely
A routine act of kindness can help you become a nicer person. Regularly, make conscious efforts to be nice to people, animals, and your environment. You can task yourself to keep a record of how often you show kindness.
For every random act of kindness you perform, you could reward yourself with a treat and encourage yourself to do better.
5. Have Good Intentions Always
In learning how to be a nicer person, you must understand that having good intentions, especially towards others, is extremely important.
When you sincerely hope that the people around you live a happier life, it is a subtle way of being nice.
A few years ago, while I was waiting to get admitted to college, I took a job as a shop attendant in a famous mall. I had two other colleagues, and we worked together in the same unit.
One day, they told us that among us three, two would get promoted for being hardworking and dedicated. While I felt I deserved a promotion, I understood my colleagues had done enough to get it too.
We met and talked about it one evening at the cafeteria. We told one another that any of us deserved the promotion, but unfortunately, one of us may not get it.
We wished one another good luck and waited patiently for the promotion letter. It was evident that we all had good intentions for one another and hoped any of us would get promoted.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the promotion when the time came, but my colleagues did. I was happy for them and wished them well. They also said kind words to me before they left.
Well, only three days later, I got a letter of admission from my choice college and had to resign from the job. In the end, we were all promoted (technically, yeah), and it was a win-win situation for all of us.
6. Pay More Attention To Other People’s Plights
Listening to people when they complain about certain things happening in their lives is a nice thing to do.
It also makes them feel better because they assume that someone is genuinely concerned about their plights and probably willing to help.
When you pay attention to people, you may realize that you can offer a few suggestions to help them get out of such situations.
Even though you may not have much to offer, you could make someone feel there’s a solution to their problems by simply showing concern.
7. Show Your Loved Ones That You Remember Their Wonderful Memories
People create moments to remember the good times they’ve had. For most people, those memories stay in their minds forever. However, they may likely not remember all the events during that moment.
So when you remind them of the beautiful memories they have had, it wouldn’t only make them feel great about themselves, but they would also feel you were nice enough to remember their beautiful memories.
8. Compliment People Whenever The Opportunity Comes
Whenever you have the chance to compliment others, do not hesitate to do so.
A simple “hello, you smell very nice, I like nice-smelling people,” “Great performance dear, you were outstanding today,” can make people feel good about themselves.
It can also make them realize how much of a nice person you are. Nevertheless, your compliments must be honest and sincere. Don’t compliment people when you do not mean to do so.
Most people can detect whether you are being sarcastic when you commend them. So, rather than making snarky comments about their looks, say nothing.
9. Develop An Affection For Animals And Nature
When you love animals and nature, it is a clear indication of how nice you are to life generally. Of course, we have to be nice to people but must be nice to animals and our environment.
I once had a neighbor who had lots of pets in her house. She planted a lot of trees too. Whenever I visited her, I was often carried away by how she could live with those creatures and accommodate all of them.
These animals ranged from cats to fish in the aquarium, rabbits, and even snakes. She took care of them and ensured each of her pets never went hungry.
I cannot forget to mention that she was one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. She never missed the opportunity to check up on me and offered me gifts whenever she could.
Once, she sent a book on pets as a gift along with an inscription that read, “love to yourself, others, animals, and of course nature!”
That had a lasting effect on me and how I saw the world. I began to realize that I could love animals as much as I loved humans. I began to see the importance of living in a safer and greener environment.
Now, my affection for both pets and nature cannot be sung enough!
10. Show Humility Always
Being humble is one of the oldest and most effective methods of showing that you are a nice person. Everyone loves and respects an individual who shows humility and character in all they do.
When you are humble, you attract the right kind of people to your life, but you will also acquire the validation of others. Humility can take you to the very top of life’s scale.
People tend to put more trust and confidence in those that are humble. No one fancies associating with a person who displays so much ego and arrogance. The more humble you appear, the nicer people will think you are.
11. Look At Things From The Perspective Of Others
In learning how to be a nicer person, you have to look at things from other people’s perspectives.
Sometimes, we may not realize that we have not acted nicely to people until we put ourselves in their shoes.
When you develop such a habit, you will most likely be less judgmental and more attentive to the people around you. Once, I disagreed with a close friend concerning the organization of an event we planned together.
He was made head of the planning committee while I was his deputy. He suggested we fixed the day of the event on a weekend since most people would be available by then.
I politely disagreed because I felt weekends were meant to be rest days. Additionally, I didn’t want it to be on a weekend because I had had other plans for the weekend.
Therefore, I may have to reschedule my plans if we fix the event on the weekend. Although my friend wasn’t pissed, he asked me to reconsider my opinion.
He said most people would be available on weekends since they wouldn’t have other engagements at work or wherever. Also, we had already received positive feedback from people, and they were looking forward to attending the event.
So it didn’t seem like they would be bothered if it wasn’t fixed on a weekend. Later, I realized that my friend was right. I also felt I was putting my interest ahead of others, which was selfish. I
had to look at things from the perspective of my friend and the people involved. When I did so, I agreed with my friend that the event should be fixed for a weekend.
Fortunately, the event was a massive success as a result of two factors:
• It was held on a Saturday
• The planning committee looked at things from different angles
12. Have A Positive Influence On Social Media
Social media has become one of our most significant assets in this century. Having a positive influence on social media can help you achieve many things.
For example, you won’t only connect with the right people but would also showcase yourself as a nice person to the world.
13. Consider The Advantages Of Being Kind
Kindness comes with a lot of advantages. First, you will be loved by not just your family members but everyone else you cross paths with.
Kindness can make you feel good about yourself and help improve your emotional well-being. Finally, you have a certain feeling of satisfaction when you show compassion to others.
In learning how to be a nicer person, you must always look at the advantages of being kind.
14. Remind Yourself Why You Should Love People More
Always remind yourself that everyone you meet wherever you go deserves your love. Whether they are physically, financially, mentally, emotionally capable, or incapable, you must love them equally.
Therefore, you should be willing to love people more and show that you love them with your actions. Saying kind words to them or offering gifts — no matter how little — can make people feel loved by you.
This way, you appear nice to them.
15. Learn How To Control Yourself When Angry
In learning how to be a nicer person, you must understand that you must not be quick to anger. Of course, it is natural to get angry about something or someone.
However, the extent to which you express anger could determine how much of a nice person you are. Therefore, you have to learn how to control yourself when angry.
For example, walk away instead of saying hurtful words to others when you get angry. Then, after a while, you could come back and explain to the people that you didn’t like what they did.
16. Always Have Positive Thoughts
Nice people are positive people. They do not allow negative thoughts to spoil their mood or stop them from being nice. So, to eliminate negative energy, they are always filled with positive thoughts.
They do not easily get discouraged from doing what they think is right. They are always ready to help others and pay attention to their problems.
Understanding how to be a nicer person means you always have to have positive thoughts.
17. Be Kind To Strangers
Strangers are those who barely know you. They don’t know whether you are a nice person or not. Perhaps, they are meeting you for the first time.
So, to make them know how much of a nice person you are, you have to be kind to them. A random act of kindness, especially to those who barely know you, is a way of showing you are simply a nice person and you’re not faking it.
Being kind to strangers does not mean you have to be a people pleaser. You can read this article to understand the difference between a nice person and a people pleaser.
18. Volunteer For A Humanitarian Project
One of the best ways to learn to be a nice person is by volunteering for a humanitarian project. It shows how much you care about others and love humanity.
There are thousands of Non-governmental organizations, foundations, and many humanitarian groups seeking volunteers. You can join a project and spread the love.
19. Always See The Good Side Of People
Most times, you hear people say that there is no perfect human in this world. This is mainly true because every human has a behavioral trait that others consider bad.
We can only live in peace with people if we learn to cope with their shortcomings and always see their good side.
When you learn to appreciate the good side of others, you will be able to make peace with everyone and yourself.
However, you must also remember that you too may get others upset at a point in time. So, learning how to be a nicer person requires you to see the good side of others often.
20. Be Kind To Yourself
There is no such thing better than your life. You must first feel great about yourself before you can pass it on to others. One of the best ways to lead a happier lifestyle is to be kind to yourself.
Make sure you are always ready to attend to your needs, your health — especially your mental and physical well-being.
When you develop that consciousness that you are kind to yourself, there is a particular urge to extend kindness to others.
How To Be A Nicer Person At Work
Learning how to be a nicer person requires you to be nice to everyone, including your friends, family members, and colleagues at work.
When you are nice to these people, there is a high chance that they will reciprocate your goodwill. At work, it is important to be nice to your colleagues.
Apart from having a smooth working relationship with them, you will most likely establish long-lasting relationships with some of them when you are nice to them. Below are some tips on how to be a nicer person at work:
1. Be Familiar With Your Colleagues
It is easier to create a healthy working relationship with your colleagues when you are familiar with them.
Being familiar with your colleagues means you know their names, how much they fancy chitchats or essential conversations, their temperaments, and how dedicated they are to work.
Knowing these things about them makes it easier for you to establish a relationship. Being familiar with your colleagues will also help you know how to communicate with each of them.
Since humans display different characters, we have to get closer to them to understand how they function. This doesn’t in any way suggest you have to be overly familiar with everyone at work.
It simply means you should understand your colleagues’ behavioral tendencies and know how to manage them when the need arises.
2. Always Say Hi Whenever You Can
Generally, people fancy those who seem to be nice. One of the most effective ways to show you are a nice person without establishing a relationship is by greeting people when necessary.
For example, at work, simply saying hi to your coworkers while wearing a decent smile can convince them how much of a nice person you are. It can also make them feel you are approachable and friendly.
If they are bothered about something at work and need someone to talk to, don’t be surprised when they ask whether you are available to discuss it.
3. Always Keep A Positive Attitude
One of the quickest ways to fall out with your coworkers is getting angry quickly or keeping a pessimistic attitude.
By having a positive mindset, especially during difficult situations, you will most likely win the hearts of your colleagues.
For instance, maybe as the head of a group project, you failed to meet the deadline due to factors beyond your control.
You can cheer everyone up by making comments like, “at least, we now know how much time and resources we will need for our next project”, “We did a great job but hope to do better next time.”
Such words go a long way to leave an indelible mark in the hearts of your coworkers. Not only will they be willing to work with you next time, but they will also work harder to ensure complete success.
4. Be Very Attentive To Your Colleagues
When discussing with a colleague — whether it is formal or not — making body signs that let them know you are paying keen attention is essential.
That way, they feel you are willing to listen to them and help them solve their problems. You can ask them questions concerning the conversation and proffer solutions if needed to make things more interesting.
Having good listening skills can make your colleagues see you positively. It will send a message that you are not just approachable, but you are willing to help.
5. Give Your Best, Not Your All
People do not often realize that there is a huge difference between giving your best and giving all you have at work.
When you give your best, you are ensuring that you are professional enough to work for the growth of your organization or company while still taking care of other aspects of your life.
When you give your all, it means you are willing to sacrifice everything else for your job, including family, health, and other things. Realistically, you cannot possibly give your best if you give everything you have.
Hence in learning how to be a nicer person, you must know how to balance your work life and other aspects of your life. That way, you will be much more effective and productive at work.
6. Respect Other People’s Opinions
This is one of the most effective tips for being a nicer person at work. First, you must understand that you will have conflicting opinions with someone at work at one point or another.
Simply put, your colleagues may not agree with you sometimes and vice versa. Therefore, you must be smart enough to respect their opinion, no matter how absurd it may sound.
For example, you are required to carry a specific task with a coworker. Your coworker offers a detailed plan to execute the task. You go through the plan and notice you don’t fancy some of the ideas he projected.
Rather than outright telling him that his ideas won’t work, you can politely do so. You can tell him that you appreciate his contributions and efforts to completing the task, and you are glad to be working with him.
However, you feel that if you both follow some of the ideas he has projected, it may not be viable for the task. After saying that, you can offer your solutions and ideas and ask him what he thinks.
That way, both of you can find a better way to solve the problem and complete the task.
7. Help Your Colleagues Out
In learning how to be a nicer person at work, you must understand that you have to be there for your colleagues when they need your help.
When you are the go-to guy at work, people will see that you are indeed a nice person and hardworking. However, you must help your colleagues mostly when it doesn’t affect your portion of work.
Be willing to help when you have the luxury of time and not when you are choked up with your personal engagements.
How To Be Nicer To Your Family
It’s almost impossible to talk about how to be a nicer person without mentioning family. This is because our families are often our most vital support system.
They are the ones who love and care for us unconditionally. When you face difficult situations, it is most likely your family that will come through for you before anyone else.
They will make sure they give you all the support you need to get back up when you are down. People surrounded by incredible family members tend to live a happier and more rewarding life.
That said, it is vital to reciprocate the love and support shown to you by your family members. While you can do so in different ways, being nice to them is perhaps the most effective way to show you care about them too.
Here are three ways you can be nicer to your family:
1. Do Not Yell At Them Or Display Violent Behaviors
One of the things that keeps a family happy is that each member barely becomes violent and aggressive. A happy family is one where love, peace, and unity reigns supreme.
Therefore the best way to enhance love and unity is to be nice to everyone. Do not yell at your siblings, children, or parents (whichever the case may be). Avoid getting unnecessarily aggressive.
When you get upset about anything, rather than acting violently, look for polite ways to resolve the issue. Remember your behavior could reflect on other people, especially if you have family members looking up to you.
That said, learn how to be as calm as possible when handling tense situations.
2. When You Are Angry, Evaluate The Reasons
When you get upset by how a family member treated you, you can show you are a nice person by checking your emotions.
Before you react, think about why such a family member has behaved that way and whether your anger is justifiable. When you allow yourself to think before acting, you will appear nice and thoughtful to your family members.
3. Give Each Of Your Family Members Presents Occasionally
Understanding how to be a nicer person, especially your family members, can help you improve many aspects of your life.
For example, when you are nicer to them, you may begin to realize that taking responsibilities may not be so complicated after all.
You can decide to make it a task to occasionally offer at least one family member a present. At that point, you are responsible for a part of their happiness.
Without any doubt, you will become nicer to them when you continue and they will become more affectionate towards you.
Conclusion
Being nice takes a lot of effort and time especially if you weren’t always a nice person. It is often possible to be a good person and not be nice.
Being nice is an added bonus and it actually hurts no one except your relationship with others. Putting effort to be nicer doesn’t make you weak but instead builds healthier relationships for you.
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