A wise woman...graciously accepts a compliment with a simple, "thank you".
Like most people, I feel stronger and get a boost of energy when someone takes the time to let me know they think I'm on the right track. Mind you, it must be authentic praise. Most of us have developed a pretty fine tuned "BS-O-Meter" - we can detect a hidden agenda from a mile away.
But even when it is authentic, I continue to be fascinated by the relationship that our culture has with receiving praise.
Why do so many of us, particularly women, push praise away when it's offered with responses such as - "Oh, this old thing?" or "Oh, it was nothing." or "Oh, they're just being polite." and my personal favorite, "Oh, you haven't had your eyes checked lately have you!"
Why do so many of us, particularly women, push praise away when it's offered with responses such as - "Oh, this old thing?" or "Oh, it was nothing." or "Oh, they're just being polite." and my personal favorite, "Oh, you haven't had your eyes checked lately have you!"
Why is it so difficult for us to simply say - thank you?
I know, we're taught to be humble, which is a good thing a lot of the time - but is it necessary ALL of the time? Cognitive Psychologists have been encouraging us for decades to accept praise because they know it strengthens us to take on new things in our lives.
And what about the praise-giver? If we choose to push praise away we're also choosing not to value the judgment of others, let alone honour their kind gesture.
Let's make a collective "pinkie swear" with each other that we will practice, and become skilled at, the art of graciously accepting authentic praise with a simple thank you. It's one of the best things we can do to take care of ourselves.
