give out more compliments

Done! I think I’ve made enough improvements that I can mark this one off. Lately I noticed that I have been genuinely complimenting people much more often and with less hesitation. I just really figured I should be sharing compliments with people rather than keeping these thoughts in my head to myself. A simple compliment can better someone’s mood or day enormously.. I just know how good I feel when someone compliments me… This is something that I don’t want to ever stop doing so even though I am marking it as complete I will continue to work on it.

Improvements!
I have been actively trying to compliment coworkers, and other people I come across daily. And I complimented a girl at the bank (whom I don’t talk to much) on her new hair cut! Still want to work on this more though!

I’m still not really where I want to be with this goal. I’m doing a bit better with it but I really didn’t think this would be so hard for me to develop into a habit. Of course I am not going to give out insincere compliments to people if I don’t mean them, but there are many, many times where I could tell people that I think they did a great job on something or they look really nice etc. and I just don’t do it. Urgghh!

Maybe I need to make a mini-goal from this and try to compliment one person every day.

Yesterday my boyfriend said something very kind and intimate (for lack of a better word) to me about our relationship. My response was “I’m glad you think so.” Consequently, he was upset because I didn’t return the compliment. He was right, it was a completely inappropriate response to what he had said. But I swear, the thought did not even cross my mind to divulge something sweet back to him. How in the world did my social skills become so terrible…

It occurs to me that I need to learn how to accept compliments, as well as dish them out.

When I spend time with people I often notice something that I really love about them, like the way they tell stories or a skill or talent they have, or even something as simple as how their hair looks or a shirt they’re wearing. But I rarely ever take that thought beyond my own head, and actually tell them and compliment them. I don’t know why; there is no reason not to.

I know how much I appreciate receiving compliments and I know how it makes me feel good and brightens my day. I really want to give that same feeling to other people.