Hi again
You've been told to be nice since you were a child. But what exactly does that mean for an adult? "Nice" is a vague term to put it; however, once you figure it out, you'll quickly find that being nice can pay off big time!
Now, this is not to be confused with being a brown-noser or suck-up. Those are phony personalities. Being nice simply involves being yourself in a genuine way that makes others feel good about themselves... and about you at the same time.
Smile.
A smile will let people know that you are pleasant. If you smile at someone, look them in the eye. For the most part, if you smile at someone, they won't do anything but smile back. If they don't, then maybe they are just having a bad day. It is up to you to set the mood of the encounter. Make it happy by being the first to smile. You don't need to walk around like a grinning idiot all day, but making faces or moody looks at someone is not nice and will usually fetch you the same in return.
Say "hello".
Nobody likes to feel invisible or passed over. When you're walking past someone, even a stranger, try to acknowledge their presence with a simple "hello" or "hi" or even just a wave or a nod in their direction. Adding the smile to this can make it all the more friendly.
Be a good listener.
When someone is speaking, do you REALLY listen to what they have to say or are you simply waiting your turn to speak? Listen when other people are talking to you. It isn't nice to just ignore other people's opinions and stories... especially if you expect them to listen to yours, in turn.
Be courteous.
A simple, genuine "please" or "thank you" can get you everywhere! Be patient, observant, and considerate. Treat people with respect. If you are respectful to that person, that person will usually act the same way.
"A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person."
Be humble.
The key to being nice is remembering that you are not "better" than someone else. You're an individual, but everybody has their struggles, and being nice to one another makes life better for everyone. Don't brag or have a high ego. Everybody is equal. But still be positive and bright.
Offer to help.
If you see someone struggling or doing anything, offer to help, even doing something as simple as carrying a bag of groceries, or hold the door for someone.
Do those little things.
Those little, everyday things, like holding the door for someone you don't know, or smiling and saying "thank you" to someone who holds the door for you- those little tiny things that don't seem to matter much, but in the end, you come off as a much nicer person and you also show that you sincerely and genuinely care.
