Being kindhearted is both a blessing and a curse.
It’s a character trait admired by many and possessed by few, but quite often, the ever-so peppy smile plastered across your face can make you or break you.
Growing up, I’ve experienced this bizarre catch-22 firsthand. The happy demeanor and selfless ideals I’ve been taught from day one have worked in my favor multiple times, but they’ve also been the root of various downfalls.
When you are “too nice,” you give people the benefit of the doubt. You automatically assume everyone is looking out for your best interest because you are looking out for their best interest.
You find yourself going out of your way for your peers on a regular basis, constantly wondering if they would do the same for you — and, in most cases, they won’t.
At the end of the day, you weigh all of your decisions on karma. You have faith that for every deed you do for someone else, something good will happen for you in return.
In a perfect world, this would happen. Maybe, then, kindness wouldn’t be mistaken for weakness.
But, in the meantime, we need to steer clear of the fine line that lies between being a nice person and being a doormat.
Throughout various sleepless nights of overthinking my naïve thoughts and actions, I’ve finally realized how to conquer the “nice girl” façade without becoming a total bitch. And I’ve become a lot stronger because of it.
Don’t get me wrong; being a kindhearted person is the best kind of person to be because, hey, you won’t get far in life with a sh*tty attitude.
