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How many times have we heard this? How many times have we used this word to encourage peace among others? And yet, the word is so vague. It's also a missed opportunity.
In her Grande Prairie Ted Talk, Christine Ayling describes the Virtues Project and the profound effect it has had on her career and her life and most importantly, on the people she counsels and supports through trauma and struggle. Ayling recommends eliminating the word nice from your vocabulary. Why? When we eliminate the word "nice," suddenly we use more specific, more apt words. These better words describe the qualities we see in others, qualities we want to foster and develop and affirm: virtues.
Instead of describing someone or something as nice, why not seize the teachable moment and offer some insight to our students and colleagues, some feedback that can truly impact their greatest strengths, their virtues. Why not identify, recognize and affirm
- gentleness?
- discernment?
- tolerance?
- cheerfulness?
- humility?
- respect?
- honour?
- courage?
- cooperation?
- endurance?
- patience?
- confidence?
- tact?
- mercy?
- optimism?
- faith?
- perceptiveness?
- flexibility?
- empathy?
- truthfulness?
- wonder?
Indeed, why not? Have a
