How Well Do You Receive Compliments?

American author Mark Twain once said, “I can live two months on a good compliment.”

How about you? What does a good compliment do for you?

For many women, accepting compliments is a difficult thing. It feels uncomfortable, so we brush them off.

But what if we started accepting them – and feeling gratitude for them? Can you imagine what it would do for our self-esteem and our sense of appreciation?

Beginning now, make a pledge to yourself. Pay attention to what other people are noticing about you – and how they’re bringing it to your attention.

Instead of playing down a compliment, look the person in the eye, smile, and say, “Thank you.” Then document it in your journal.

Every time someone gives you a compliment, write it down.

Create a special section in your journal just for compliments – and make it a lifelong habit. You may discover things about yourself that you never fully recognized.

Also, keep an eye out for those indirect compliments that can slip under the radar.

Years ago, I had a boss who never gave positive feedback. So hearing him say, “This report is not half bad” would have been cause for documentation.

Notice when someone is giving you a compliment in a moment of passing by – or passing through.

For example, when the UPS delivery person says, “Your window boxes are so beautiful. I admire them every time I bring a package to your house. You’ve really got a green thumb!” – allow yourself to receive it.

Then document the compliment in your journal – and ask yourself these questions:

• Is there truth to this compliment?
• Do I feel proud? Or do I feel embarrassed and uncomfortable?
• Where was I taught to feel this way? Who or what was my teacher?
• Have I received this compliment before? If so, how does it shine a light on me as a person? How does it highlight my gifts?

Allow yourself to really SEE who you are through the eyes of another person – and give yourself permission to receive the compliment at face value.

Notice how the compliment is flowing through your body, through your mind – and into your heart.

What’s waiting to be discovered within you – through the receiving of this compliment?

These are the types of rich questions that we’ll be exploring in next month’s Moonlight Journaling Retreat – where we’ll be dabbling with 18 different journal writing techniques as we journey through the moon phases during a real-time 28-day lunar cycle.

Come join a beautiful and very sacred circle of women – and dance with your inner wisdom as you explore the various aspects of yourself, your life, and your relationships with others – through the art of journal writing.

For more information, please click on the link above.