Nice and Not-So-Nice
Today, a curious notion flitted into my mind, one that stopped me in my tracks: if everyone was nice, no one would be nice. At first glance, it’s a paradox, a contradiction that challenges our conventional understanding of niceness. But as I ruminated over it, a layer of depth unfolded. It reminded me of the essential principle of contrast, the inherent dichotomy in the spectrum of human behaviour that helps us define and truly appreciate what ‘niceness’ means.
We live in a world abundant in diversity, a kaleidoscope of characters, attitudes, and behaviours. Among these myriad personalities, we come across a fair share who are less than pleasing. In fact, it’s safe to say that every one of us has encountered individuals whose actions and attitudes lean towards the less agreeable side. These experiences, often uncomfortable, occasionally painful, serve a significant purpose. They offer us a reference point, a contrast against which we can recognise and appreciate kindness when it comes our way.
Think of it this way: If we lived in an eternal summer, would we still cherish the warmth of the sun? If all we ever tasted was sweetness, would we still delight in a scoop of ice cream? Similarly, if all we ever encountered was unvarying kindness, would we still perceive it as such, or would it simply become our new baseline?
However, while this contrast lends perspective, it doesn’t imply that we should willingly plunge ourselves into a sea of negativity. On the contrary, for the sake of our mental and emotional well-being, it’s vital that we strive to surround ourselves with positive, uplifting individuals.
Imagine your mind as a verdant garden. In this garden, negative influences act as weeds, encroaching on the growth of beautiful flowers and stifling their potential bloom. Positive influences, on the other hand, are akin to sunshine and rain, nourishing the flowers, enabling them to thrive and bloom in their full glory. The garden blooming with flowers is infinitely more pleasing to the gardener than the one overrun with weeds, wouldn’t you agree? In the same vein, we must choose to fill our personal gardens, our lives, with positivity and kindness.
Our understanding of ‘niceness’, shaped by the existence of the not-so-nice, becomes a guidepost as we navigate our interpersonal relationships. It enables us to identify and cherish those individuals who bring light, joy, and kindness into our lives, encouraging us to hold these people close, to nurture these relationships.
So, while the existence of unpleasant behaviour may underscore our appreciation of niceness, it’s the kind, uplifting ones that truly enrich our lives. We need the existence of all types to define ‘nice’, but for our own well-being, it’s essential that we intentionally surround ourselves with the positive. By consciously choosing to cultivate and cherish the positive relationships in our lives, we create a personal environment that fosters our own growth, happiness, and peace of mind.
Leave a Comment