Compliments are FREE…

and giving them, makes you feel AWESOME

Our theme for September is self-care and I’ve got the easiest top tip ever for you this week.

There are huge benefits to giving (and receiving compliments). It is the easiest way to make someone else feel great AND it turns out it makes us feel better too!

Studies have shown however we can get a little anxious about it. We worry how our compliment will be received, whether we might say the wrong thing, we don’t want to come across as patronising, or clumsy, or fawny.

Well, here’s the good news. Studies also show these fears are completely unfounded and recipients are always happier than we might estimate to hear our words. What’s more, they don’t remotely find us cringeworthy or awkward! Compliment givers worry about articulating the compliment correctly and navigating some kind of (imagined) social competency test. The studies show however that the recipient cares not about any of these things. They only notice the niceness of the compliment, the kindness of the words.

Further studies have shown that you can’t really overdo compliments. People who receive compliments just feel great.

There is an element of reciprocity that happens with compliments too – if you compliment someone, that are far more likely to pass that feeling on by giving a compliment at the very next opportunity.

You could think of it like a hug, of words, delivered via a Mexican wave!

So, don’t hold back, say what’s on your mind and give compliments freely – you will feel amazing and have the pleasure of making someone else feel great too!