Beyond Words with Najwa Zebian 028- Stop Being Nice to People Who Aren’t Nice to You
Jan 20, 2026
31:22
You’ve been taught that being nice is the safest way to survive conflict—especially with people who are cruel, dishonest, or inconsiderate. But niceness can become a way of abandoning yourself.
In this episode, I’m talking about why you keep meeting mistreatment with more kindness, more patience, more understanding—while forgetting the most important person in your life: you.
We’ll unpack:
- Why “being nice” can be a trauma response (fawning)
- The difference between niceness and kindness
- Why self-respect starts with accepting what just happened
- How boundaries aren’t punishment—they’re protection
- Why you don’t have to endure someone’s hell to “earn” their heaven
Words That Found Me: Brené Brown — “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
Words From Me to You: Welcome Home — “Give Yourself Validation”
If someone’s approval requires your self-abandonment, let them keep it.