How do you receive compliments? Do you politely say thank you? Do you smile sheepishly? Or do you try to downplay the compliment?
While many people can graciously accept compliments, a lot can’t, and downplaying compliments is more rampant than we think.
When I refer to downplaying of compliments, I don’t mean people outrightly rejecting or attacking the person giving the compliment. In this context, I’m referring to the set of people who feel they are not deserving of compliments, the people who get easily overwhelmed with compliments, and the people who hate being in the spotlight.
Sometimes downplaying compliments otherwise known as compliment deflection is done without one realizing they are doing something wrong, to them it’s just a reflexive response to praise they feel they do not deserve or isn’t necessary.
For the longest time, I struggled with accepting compliments. I could say thank you, but be assured I’d still make some silly remarks about the compliment or laugh my way out of the awkward situation.
Yes, some compliments can put you in an awkward position and your reflexive response can be to either counter them or respond in a certain way that shifts the spotlight from you.
For someone who compliments people a lot and makes people smile, it was so weird to not know how to receive compliments. For the longest time, I had no idea that I sucked at receiving compliments until my friend pointed it out to me.
To me, it was normal to deflect compliments thrown at me, but to the other person, it felt like I wasn’t appreciative.
You could compliment me for looking nice and pretty, instead of accepting this beautiful compliment graciously like the queen that I am, I’d laugh like I was in a comedy show😂
One crazy fact about me is that I always laugh my way out of uncomfortable situations.
I figured the reason for the constant compliment deflection was born out of my not believing in myself. It was a way to hide my insecurities and my hatred of being in the spotlight. I was okay with me being the supporting character and not the main character, so when remarkable qualities were found in me and were appreciated, I always ran away.
A lot of People don’t know that they downplay compliments more often than they think.
For example, being complimented about a job you did so well, rather than accepting the compliment and be proud of your achievement, you blame luck, you enumerate your mistakes or you change the subject.
No matter how modest, shy, or insecure we are, it’s okay to accept compliments, allow them to sink in, let them marinate, and feel good about them without feeling awkward.
Yes, We know ourselves better than others and we can be so hard on ourselves sometimes, but it’s okay to be happy about a compliment. Don’t shrug it off, don’t overthink it, just be happy about it.
I’m on a journey to accepting every compliment wholeheartedly and allowing myself to be happy. Enough of the self-criticism, even the strongest of us needs a break.
What about you reading this post, do you like compliments? How do you receive them? I’ll love to read your thoughts in the comment section.
All images are mine except otherwise stated.
Thanks for stopping by
Loads of Love🥰🥰
XOXO
