January 6, 2024

How to Accept a Compliment

Want to become confident and don’t know where to start?
 

Learn to accept praise.

Let’s start with the obvious:

How do you accept a compliment?

If your default response is to:
  • blush
  • stutter an excuse
  • say it’s not your merit
  • explain it’s an exception
  • share details no one asked for
 
here is the harsh truth you need to hear:
 
you’re so used to playing yourself down
 
that you don’t even realize that others 
 
know, like and accept your strengths.
 
Tough, I know – sorry!
Take a deep breath, count to 3, exhale…
and don’t take it personal. 
 
Now let’s make sure you start owning who you are, what you do and be unapologetic about it. There is only one of you on this planet and there will never ever be another exactly like you. You are unique – about the time you embraced this truth.
 
When others tell you about your strengths, all you have to do is accept their words with grace. Let the positive remarks sink in. By doing this, you’re telling them: “Yes, you’re right, I am great!”
 

Here’s how you can accept a compliment in 3 simple steps:

1. Smile

2. Say “thank you”

3. Shut up

 
Smiling may be easy.
 
Saying “thank you” may be easy.
 
Stopping after “thank you” can be challenging. 
 
You see, this is where you overcompensate right now. You are not familiar with accepting praise. You don’t feel comfortable with compliments so you’re looking for a way out. 
 
You blurt out excuses, give explanations – anything that shifts the focus away from you. You learned to deal in this way with the uncomfortable feeling of being in the spotlight (for a moment!). The discomfort comes from your conditioning to be modest, to put others first, to not stand out.
Give yourself some grace and stay with the discomfort. If you shut up and smile, it will go away, little by little. And a bit of self-awareness will replace it at first. Then some self-esteem will follow. A warm feeling of confidence will show up as well.
 
Remember:

What you learned, you can un-learn.

You can make accepting compliments familiar.
 
Each time you practice, it will get better.
 

Smile, say “thank you”, shut up.

 
Let it be easy for you.
 
Let yourself shine.
 
Start right now.
 
How to accept a compliment. To become confident, learn to let praise in.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

How Are YOU Doing? (Reach Out)

Wait, stop for a moment. It’s all too easy to answer the question: ’how are you doing?’ without really thinking. So here’s what I want you to do: read the question again, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and sit for at least 10 seconds and search deeply for

Read More »
November 24, 2024

Instant Clarity: The 4 Questions That Bring It to Your Life

Life can feel overwhelming sometimes. Decisions, opportunities, and even relationships can pile up, leaving you unsure of what really matters. In times like these, clarity is key. But how do you get there? One simple way to get instant clarity is to ask yourself four straightforward questions: Do I need

Read More »
November 20, 2024

The Story You Tell Yourself

Dave woke up one morning feeling the same as he had for the past few weeks. The story was the same. His alarm went off, and he hit the snooze button, wishing he could stay in bed forever. The world outside his small apartment seemed distant, and nothing really excited

Read More »
November 10, 2024

Being Nice Is Toxic

I want to tell you the story of my client George, who turned his life around by answering my simple, 6-word question: “When will you stop being nice?” George (not the real name) was always the nicest person you could ever meet. He never said “no” to anyone. If someone

Read More »
October 19, 2024

Manage ALL of Your Emotions With Ease

There are many times when it’s challenging to manage emotions with ease. And when you learn to be aware, accept and articulate them, you develop into a better, more rounded, emotionally intelligent person. Let’s start with a story from my personal experience: “Don’t cry” is something I hear from my

Read More »
October 5, 2024