Want to Feel More Positive? Learn to Give Genuine Compliments (2024)

FAQs

How do I give more genuine compliments? ›

There could be a number of potential reasons why you find it uncomfortable, They include: You are not used to sharing your emotions or you fear being misunderstood or that your compliment will be rejected. You may not like opening up and being vulnerable if you have practised this throughout your life.

Genuine compliments build relationships, improve communication, motivate people, and boost one's self-esteem and self-confidence.

Giving a genuine compliment requires us to look for the good in others. In doing so, we also start to see the good in ourselves. We realize that we are all on the same journey together and that each of us has value to share with the world. Seeing the good in others has another powerful benefit.

Say “thank you.” If you are tempted to respond impulsively with a remark that could come back to harm you, it may be in your best interest to reply simply as if the person was entirely sincere. Tell the person “thank you” even if you're sure the compliment wasn't altogether genuine.

Sometimes “genuine” is a compliment. If someone says “You are genuine”, that is generally a compliment about your authenticity.

We may face difficulties in understanding the compliment and taking it in a healthy manner because we are not used to it. Our expectations for ourselves are very high: We often set so high expectations for ourselves that we are never able to match up to them. This also makes us feel that we are never good enough.

The reason you feel uncomfortable receiving compliments is because subconsciously you don't see yourself or anything you do as worthy of praise. The saying goes we are our own harshest critic, and that is true.

Well, it could be because of a multitude of factors. You could be shy, feel that you're not worthy of the compliment or you may be too humble. You see, taking compliments with confidence and reverting to them with grace is also an art that not everyone possesses.

Another is that some people, especially with low-self esteem, can't hear the compliment. A compliment challenges that person's self-image, and is automatically discounted as insincere because the compliment (praise) conflicts with the self-image of the receiver (who feels unworthy of praise).

What is the psychology of giving compliments? ›

Compliments are known to have mood-lifting effects on you, and they improve your well-being. Compliments make people feel good – both receivers and compliment givers. Neuroscientists have shown that verbal affirmations light up the same areas of the brain as a monetary reward does.

A sycophant (si-ka-fant) a is person who showers praise on people who are powerful, wealthy or influential, just to be in their good books or to get favours from them. Sycophancy refers to the quality of praising too much. In fact, sycophancy is also a form of flattery.

People who really want to give genuine compliment say it once on face and stop it but flattery is the people who keep on praising you when they have some work with you. There is a difference. People usually use “flattery” when they mean “false or disingenuous praise” so in fact they are opposites.

The key with compliments is to make them thoughtful, specific, and related to things other than looks. If you're being genuine and pointing out aspects you truly like about the person, you can't go too wrong. Be generous with your verbal affection, and hopefully, she'll return the favor!

Not only do we emotionally respond to compliments, but physically, our brain's response is the same as being paid monetary rewards. Some studies suggest that this brain activity is correlated with higher levels of skills consolidation—an integral type of learning we do in our sleep.

Compliments play a role in the how we view ourselves as well as provide us with perceptions of intentions of others in conversation. There are notable differences in compliment topics and also the intentions behind them.

If they have given an above average performance in any thing that they do, then compliments are deserved. Whether they dress, perform, speak, teach, help, practice, or study beyond what most people would consider `normal`, they set themselves apart and provide positive role models for others.