The Power of Sincere Compliments

[SammySammy]

"I can live for two months on a good compliment."

- Mark Twain

 

I recently came across the Compliment Challenge and read about some of the experiences people had complimenting others. What one woman experienced when she complimented people every day for 30 days.

 

It made me think about the impact compliments had on my life.

 

Being in high school and some middle school kids saying they wanted to be like me "when they grew up". I never knew what they meant or what they admired, but it gave me a boost of confidence and made me feel I was doing something right.

 

While selling suits for a high-end retailer, a mature lady telling me that they should hire me to just wear the clothes. Pay me to just walk around the store and model. While I don't consider myself a model or even very attractive, I'll never forget that compliment and I have a level of confidence about my appearance to this day.

 

My father telling me that my life should be a documentary. For facing and overcoming challenges and serious setbacks that most people who "know" me are unaware of. Saying that he admired me for fighting through things to achieve success despite everything that happened to me was one of the best things my father ever did for me.

 

A simple compliment.

 

In the book How To Win Friends and Influence People, step two is to give honest and sincere appreciation.

 

My questions are: Do you give sincere compliments or appreciate being complimented? What are some compliments that have impacted your life positively?

[basil67]

I enjoy when hubby tells me that I look nice. It's a rare thing, so I really appreciate when he does I also enjoy when my hobbies (dressmaking, corset making, quilt making) get compliments because they are such visual things.

 

I am one to compliment other's achievements or style. And it doesn't matter if it's a friend or stranger - if I like it, I will tell you. My favourite thing is when they accept the compliment graciously.

 

The one thing I don't enjoy are some of the compliments on my special needs parenting. "I couldn't do what you do" "You've done such a great job with him" "Such a great mum to him" I know they mean well, but I'm just a regular parent caring for her child the best way she can. Just like all the other caring parents out there.

[PrettyEmily77]

My questions are: Do you give sincere compliments or appreciate being complimented? What are some compliments that have impacted your life positively?

 

I'

m

always a bit wary of being complimented myself (not sure why), but I have no problem giving compliments when warranted. On the flip side, I also tend to tell people straight up when I feel there is a problem or a misunderstanding.

 

That's probably why the people I trust the most are those who spell things out as they are, be it a compliment or a 'home truth' - anything said with sincerity and good intentions is generally well received.

[truthtripper]

I'm always a bit wary of being complimented myself (not sure why).

When I was a child, my aunt would always tell me how "pretty" I was. Since she was the only person who gave me this complement, I used to think I must be ugly and that she felt sorry for me. Unfortunately, compliments don't always have favourable outcomes. They can sometimes arouse distrust in the complimented.

[Gloomy]

We often don't realize what is going on in the lives of others, or what struggles they are going through. Sometimes a simple compliment can brighten their day.

 

I always go out of my way to compliment others when I have the opportunity. Life is too short to keep it in, if you can make someone feel good about themselves, it says a lot about your own character.

 

I grew up around people who refused to compliment one another. It's as if they believed that complimenting someone else would make it "go to their head". I refused to follow that nonsense.