For years, I wore my "niceness" like a badge of honor. I was the guy who never rocked the boat, who swallowed his truth to keep the peace, who bent over backward to make everyone else happy—especially in relationships.

I thought I was a good man. I said ‘yes’ when I meant ‘no.’ I avoided conflict to ‘keep the peace.’ I bent over backward to make women happy. And in the end, every relationship crumbled—not because I was too nice, but because I wasn’t honest.