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How To Take a Compliment
“That’s a pretty dress!”
“What? This old thing?”
“I love the essay you wrote!”
“It really needs a lot of work.”
How many of you have tried to give a compliment and had it thrown back in your face? How many of you have received a compliment and threw it back instead of accepting it?
I used to be one of those people who couldn’t take a compliment. In fact, I had such low self-esteem if someone said something nice to me I immediately thought there was something wrong with them. Yes, I needed therapy, and fortunately I got it!
What I’ve learned is that when someone gives me a compliment and I don’t accept it, I’m actually being rude to that person and basically calling them a liar. I’ve learned to just say, “Thank you.” Once I understood that by not accepting a compliment I was discounting another person’s feelings, it became easier to show gratitude.
When I give a compliment and someone doesn’t accept it, I sometimes joke and ask, “Are you calling me a liar? Why would I lie?” Of course my reaction startles them which is what I want because I feel it’s important that we all learn to take a compliment. I want people to know that they are worthy of receiving kindness.