Have you ever suffered from being too nice to everyone?

@jassmine (1460)
Morocco
August 18, 2020 10:50am CST
I used to. Quite a lot. I spent two years getting incessantly bullied by my roommate (who also happened to be in my class). This female gaslighted me into believing there's something wrong with me. Subtly masking her dislike for my personality in her snarky comments, she used to criticize me day in and day out. Never having met such a bitter person till then, and my self-confidence already teetering on the edge due to some trying circumstances at that time, I suffered a lot of damage at her hands. I used to cry for days, had no sense of self-worth and easily believed her when she pointed out problems in my habits and behavior. I used to think, why does she act like this when I'm so nice to her? What have I done which makes our interactions so unpleasant? Never did it strike my mind to just change the room and stop talking to her. Or even ask her to cut the crap and stay away from me. I kept taking it because I believed I deserved it. I thought it's my destiny. I thank her for that time though. Dealing with her gave me the most important lesson in my adult life. She made me understand that expecting someone to be nice, just because you are nice to them is the least effective way to deal with people and survive in this world. You can't put a price tag on your niceness. You can't expect the people around you to treat you well just because you are a good person. It doesn't work like that. If you are nice, it's for your own peace of mind. If you are kind, you have to do it with the awareness that the other person might not reciprocate in the same way. Depending on their circumstances, they may even push you away or hurt you. It took a lot of time and emotional support to repair the damage to my self-esteem in those years. I like the person that I am now. I have made peace with my flaws. And I've also understood, that if I stop being nice because of what I have faced (in those four years and later in life), I am giving power to other people to change me. Why should I do that? Am I not strong enough to defend my ideals? I haven't stopped being nice. But now, if the other person doesn't treat me with the respect I deserve, I cut them out of my life. Without baggage or regrets. I can't change the other person, but that doesn't mean I have to keep them in my life. I also make it a rule to help others with zero expectations. I never ask them to help me back just because I helped them this one time. It makes life so much easier and peaceful. I don't need to count or remember my good deeds. Being nice is a choice. It shouldn't become a burden. It should make you happy. Not full of regrets.
7 people like this
10 responses
@Sojourn (13833)
• India
19 Aug 20
I have experience of getting hazed in college by some seniors.
1 person likes this
@Sojourn (13833)
• India
19 Aug 20
@jassmine Not too bad, but uncomfortable.
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
19 Aug 20
was it bad?
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17405)
18 Aug 20
I ever suffered being to nice. I became the victim instead
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17405)
19 Aug 20
@jassmine ahhh..... There's a time.... Well it's hurt to remember that. I better just forget it
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
how so?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Aug 20
Sometimes, being nice is taken for granted to the extent that you are being bullied.
1 person likes this
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
Yeah, exactly.
@pjmurphy (2498)
• United States
18 Aug 20
So glad you are now taking better care of yourself emotionally.
1 person likes this
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
Yeah, thank you. Now I am feeling much better and no one can affect how I feel about myself.
• Agra, India
18 Aug 20
Yes... definitely and then I realised how the real way should be
1 person likes this
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
Some people use our kindness to harm us emotionally.
1 person likes this
• Agra, India
19 Aug 20
@jassmine yes ..this is true and this world has a little place for kindness
• India
18 Aug 20
I think you should have cut her down years ago
1 person likes this
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
We are learning by time, and time takes time.
1 person likes this
@annavi23 (6633)
• Philippines
19 Aug 20
I don't know why people do such bad things to others but when they are the ones being treated that way, they'll also be mad. I guess it just happened for a reason. We all learn how to cope with them, cut ties with them and hope they will be good after such bad moments. I too have been nice to a point being fooled by the person whom I shouldn't trust. Well, I can just say I have loved that person that it's okay for me to help but in the end, that person just used me by being nice when in fact, the person is not sincere.
• New Delhi, India
19 Aug 20
As per as your question is concerned, yes. I have really been too nice to everyone once due to which, I had once lost many friends of mine
@Janet357 (75638)
18 Aug 20
You are correct. Thats why my friends are very few.
1 person likes this
@jassmine (1460)
• Morocco
18 Aug 20
few good and true friends better than a lot of fake ones.
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
19 Aug 20
i ever been in this stance and it was so disturbing me. now i prefer to evil