Take a Compliment

"No, I don't look pretty today, you are joking," or "Oh, I
didn't do that good of a job." These are pretty common
responses to compliments these days. I am not quite sure
why a negative way of thinking has crept into our society,
but I think we need to get back into the habit of accepting
compliments when they come our way. Perhaps you feel you
are not deserving of a kind statement, or maybe you feel
that the person offering the words of kindness are not
being genuine; regardless, you have a simple responsibility
to take the compliment, say "Thank You" and then try to
remember it so you can call it to memory the next time you
are feeling down.

The other day I observed a bunch of friends in a clothing
store, one brunette girl told her blonde friend she should
buy a certain shirt because the blonde looked really good
in purple. I began thinking to myself how sweet of a
comment that was; to my surprise, the cute, blonde friend
totally disregarded her friend's compliment. "No way, I
wouldn't look good in that, you could try it on though."
Why was she so quick to swat away a genuine compliment? I
seriously doubt the brunette friend had any ulterior
motives in telling the blonde she would look great in a
certain shirt, but I bet she will be a lot slower to
compliment her friend knowing that her comments will only
be ignored and swept away as meaningless.

The next time a compliment comes your way, make an effort
to actually listen to their words and internalize them.
Whether it be a comment about the way you completed a task,
the beauty of your appearance, the deliciousness of a meal
or anything in between, listen closely then give thanks to
the compliment giver. Do not do yourself a disservice by
underestimating your own efforts. And have you ever
thought about what you are saying to your friends or
acquaintances in blowing off their statements? Basically,
you are asserting that their opinion is wrong and that you
do not care about what they have to offer. Just say "Thank
You" and do yourself and your friends a favor.

I think when it comes to those days when you are feeling
down, we tend to remember the times in life when we have
failed at something or we reflect on comments that others
have said to belittle us. What if, instead of feeding
feelings of insignificance in our "down" moments, we made
an effort to remember the compliments that others have
given us? I have a friend who has saved every nice letter
anyone has ever given her. Whether a it was a Thank You or
Happy Birthday Card, Valentine's Day note, or just passing
"thinking of you" message, my friend Paula keeps it all. I
think this is an excellent idea, because if she ever feels
upset or alone, she can reflect and actually hold in her
hands the kind and sincere words of people she has come
into contact with.

I think we could all benefit from taking compliments and
making an effort to appreciate them by showing our
gratitude after kind words are said. A good idea for your
personal health and self-esteem would be to keep a journal
and record some of the nice things people say to or about
you. You could write your thoughts down about how those
words made you feel and it will inspire you to try to
exemplify the kind of person your associates and friends
believe you are. Don't get down on yourself; let the words
of others keep your attitude high. It's simple really,
just take their words of appreciation for your efforts as
truths about who you really are. Take a compliment and
live a happier life.

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Courtney Lewis is the proud manager of Sweetly You. Send a
customized bath and body gift to a friend today at
http://www.sweetlyyou.com/giftsets.php

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