Happy Compliment Day!

January 24th is Compliment Day!

Why Celebrate?

It feels so good to be valued and recognized. Words are powerful! They have the capability to tear your down or build you up. When your boss tells you that you did an excellent job on that last project, it can cause you to work even harder on the next one. When a friend tells you that you are such a good listener and that she trusts you, it might cause you to listen even more carefully, and be a better friend. And even when that random person at the grocery store tells you that you have a cute haircut, it just plain makes you feel good!

Here are a few simple guidelines about both giving and receiving compliments:

1. Be sincere. You don’t want to come across as fake or rude. Find something that you sincerely like about that person, because those compliments mean the most.

2. Don’t exaggerate. You don’t have to tell someone that they look drop dead gorgeous. A simple “You look very pretty today!” is all you need.

3. When receiving a compliment, don’t give one right back. This will come off as disingenuous and forced. You don’t have to repay someone for their compliment.

4. Learn how to take a compliment. Don’t disagree with the compliment, or give a weird excuse. (“You look very pretty today!” “Oh, me? Yuck. This shirt is so old.”) Gracefully accept the compliment with a simple smile or “thank you”.

It is so important to encourage the people around you with compliments because it could make a huge difference in their day. We don’t have the ability to know what each individual person is going through, but we do have the ability to be a positive influence, even on a complete stranger.

How to Celebrate

Take the time to compliment the people that you come in contact with today. Find something positive to say… it really isn’t that hard! It can be as simple and superficial as “Gosh, I love those boots!” or as deep as “Hey, you are such a trustworthy friend, and I appreciate you!”

Quotes of the Day

“When someone who loves and cares about me compliments me, I feel more glamorous than when the flashbulbs are going off on the red carpet.” – Gabrielle Union

“It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming.” – Oscar Wilde


Featured image via ShutterStock

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