Has anybody ever given you an particularly memorable compliment? A number of years in the past, Joanna informed me I used to be “actually good at getting presents” after I flipped out over a bottle of fancy rinse-free hand wash that she gave me earlier than a flight. That hand wash was fairly nice, however what actually caught with me was the praise. Being good at receiving presents? That’s a very nice attribute to have. It’s the form of factor folks at all times discover, however not often point out — not to mention praise.
More often than not, compliments are reserved for issues you may see: Good haircut! Nice outfit! You look so fairly! Nothing unsuitable with that, however I do make some extent of attempting to supply compliments that aren’t based mostly in look. I do it, partially, as a result of it aligns with my values round physique variety and wonder requirements. But in addition as a result of non-physical compliments land otherwise, and appear to stay in a means that even probably the most effusive haircut praise doesn’t. It takes extra consideration to touch upon one thing you may’t see at a look, and I believe our brains clock that effort. It makes the remark extra significant — makes us really feel “seen,” mockingly.
Don’t get me unsuitable, I’ll take a praise on my hair (thanks for noticing my bob; I used to be tremendous nervous about it). However my coronary heart swells just like the Grinch’s once I consider the occasions somebody’s seen, for instance, that I’m good at approaching animals or making younger kids really feel comfy. And years later, I nonetheless like pondering of myself as somebody who’s good at receiving presents. It’s a small factor, however an excellent factor, and one thing I’d by no means have seen about myself had somebody not pointed it out. So once I discover a trait like that in others, I love to do the identical.
How about you? Are there any non-physical compliments which have caught with you over time? I like asking this query as a result of the solutions usually shock me!
P.S. A tip for talking to strangers, and what do you like about yourself?
(Photograph from Mates. “Bathroom seat covers?!”)
