Compliments

Why is it hard for me to accept a compliment graciously, without replying with my own personally directed put down to counteract the compliment? It is so very hard to just say, ‘Thank you’ and enjoy the moment.

I know I’m not the only women who does this. In a way we are taught to do it. That is kind of sad. It really is rare to have someone say something nice to you these days. Whether it be for a job well done, a delicious meal prepared or an observation about your appearance, generosity or character. I’m not talking about insincere flattery or back-handed compliments. We get more than our fair share of those from the snarky people in our lives. I’m talking about honest admiration of a quality or attribute we posses.

I’ve been trying to work on this. I have to mentally remind myself not to brush the compliment off in my moment of unease with a smart-ass remark. And we all know, I love to be a smart-ass, so this is no easy task. It is incredibly difficult to just say thank you. Ironically, it also feels really good to accept the compliment and take it in to embrace it.

We don’t get nearly as many of these moments as we should. If you are like me, I challenge you to practice receiving compliments with grace, then internalize and appreciate them. And because they are so rare, I will also make sure to give out a lot of genuine compliments, so that I am not the only one that gets to feel great about myself. You should do the same.