Compliments: Just Say Thank You

I was brought in an asian, traditional society where compliments were hard to come by. No matter how obedient i was as a kid, how good my grades were or how pretty i was, nobody paid me any compliment. I have to a certain degree that it’s okay no one gave me any compliments. But as i grow up, i had the chance to meet new friends, experience different culture, a new window seemed to open for me. Suddenly, i am in a society that’s very generous in giving compliments when a compliment is due. I had a tough time to learn to accept the compliments gracefully by just saying, “Thank You!”.

I have come to acknowledge that it is okay to accept a compliment when it is paid to us. You should be able to do it  too. I have learned that successful people always accept a compliment with a graceful thank you. I can’t imagine Tiger Woods saying “It was just an accident” after someone compliment him for winning a golf tournament. Because, it was not by accident that he won the game, it was his hard work and all those practice. He just acknowledged of a game well played.

Look at it this way – a compliment is just like a gift. It takes some effort to bestow a compliment on somebody and most of the time it is sincere. It is very disappointing if the gift gets returned.  If a friend compliment you on your new outfit, why complained about how fat you are! Just say, Thank You! You will make the giver and yourself happy.