What is the difference between kindness and niceness

It's kindness month at my school. Students and teachers are completing kindness challenges set each day and are given a bingo card to hit Kindness acts throughout the month! It's absolutely RAD!!!!!

It's gotten me thinking about a lot of things. Why is it kindness month and not nice month?

What is kindness? And how does it differ from being nice? I thought about googling the definition. But anyone can do that and that doesn't get you further in understanding the depth and power behind those differences.

Let's start with nice. Nice is doing things to make others feel good. Solid start. BUT nice is making others feel good, no matter what. Even if it's not the truth, even if it hurts you in the process, even if it will hurt them in the end, you act nice for the immediate moment. Being nice is a lot of the times done out of fear of conflict or hurting someone's feelings. But that in the long run is not that nice, because you are overall less truthful and could cause more pain down the line. Strong word here but, being nice can be cowardice. Nice stops from creating ripples in the present so you don't have to get wet, but can lead to waves for the person down the line. For example, if someone asks for assistance on an essay written and you think you are being nice by saying they did a great job to boost their ego, in the long run, that is not KIND. They may turn that in and get spat on and not see it coming. You could give constructive feedback so that they can make improvements and hopefully receive higher marks. that is KIND.

SO Kindness. Kindness is done from selflessness. or another way to look at it, otherness. Other-centered. How can you benefit the life of another? This is kindness. In the case of our school, we are doing things to help others, give gratitude and encourage those who are deserving. All things kind. I love it.

What kindness can take on is some resistance. Because it may not feel nice in the moment (I'll add this is not a part of our Kindness month challenge, but important to note).

Kindness is doing things that have the other person's best intentions in mind. Their best intentions may not equate to an easy conversation. Or a quick pat on the back. But that is okay, as long as you are acting from a place of love, compassion, and gratitude. Kindness is selfless for the betterment of others.

Niceness can be selfish many times so that you do not disrupt the other person's flow and you can coast away from making any positive change.

Be kind. Niceness is overrated.