"Putting ourselves down,
is an insult to our worth."
--Helen Ksypka
Have you ever noticed how women dodge compliments as if they're bullets?
You look terrific.
Oh, please; I'm a mess.
That's a beautiful blouse.
This old thing?
You did a super job.
Not really.
What a great dinner.
It was nothing.
It was nothing. That one really gets me. Why do you think we women are taken for granted and treated as if we can and should do it all? When we prepare a meal, a party, or holiday, believe me it's a big, fat something. If someone compliments us, we need to acknowledge that we knocked ourselves out, and say: thanks for noticing.
If you think I'm blowing this out of proportion, let me tell you how resisting compliments hurt one woman's business.
I spotted a top-notch brochure and knew I'd found the graphic artist I was looking for. When I contacted her and raved about the superb layout, color choices and her eye for detail, she not only found fault with every compliment, she cited additional flaws, hellbent on convincing me that the whole brochure could have been better.
Guess what? I ran for the hills. If she didn't think she was so hot, why the heck would I hire her? And you know something? When I studied her work, again, I started to believe that maybe she wasn't so talented after all. (But on the other hand, if she had just kept her mouth shut and accepted my compliments, I would have scrutinized no further, happy to be a new client.)
Perhaps recipients of compliments think that by undermining praise, it makes them appear humble. It doesn't. Instead it sends a message that screams:
And what about the people doling out the compliments? They feel they're going out of their way to show recognition, so even if the recipient rebuffs out of insecurity, it leaves the compliment-giver feeling unappreciated, frustrated, or duped that his or her observation wasn't very astute.
Now think about this for a minute. There's a steady supply of people who seize any opportunity to point out our weaknesses and shortcomings. They stomp on our ideas, dismiss our efforts, and diminish our dreams. So when compliments are handed to us on silver platters, why, oh why would we pass up positive reinforcement?
Because it's an insidious habit, but it's a habit that can be consciously reversed with practice.
If we don't think we look so great today, but someone thinks we do, why knock it? If someone thinks we did an outstanding job, let's bask in the glory. We need to ditch the attitude: "I'm not perfect enough" and give credit to ourselves and to the people who acknowledge us and our efforts. We all deserve compliments. And we deserve to take them.
Copyright 2004 by Helen Ksypka
About The Author
Helen Ksypka is a communication, organizational, and time management consultant. She is the founder of Communication Clout (SM/TM), a division of Born Organized (R), and offers many free tips at her website: http://www.bornorganized.com
Helen is also the author of "Quotes to the Rescue: Wisdom to Help You Live Life Effectively". For details, visit http://quotestotherescue.com
One of the most important aspects of living a healthy... Read More
I don't know about you, but for me, the technological... Read More
Drinking damages the soul; being lustful damages the vitality; greed... Read More
You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More
I had a completely different idea for my main article... Read More
I woke up this morning feeling sour.No. That's an understatement.... Read More
Sometimes we are in a position to look into the... Read More
I thought this was fitting sense I just experienced a... Read More
The power of positive thoughts to affect one's experience of... Read More
Music is very powerful. The kind of music you listen... Read More
This week I happened to catch a few minutes of... Read More
I was a young girl aged 12, when the one... Read More
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass... Read More
Life can be downright scary - sometimes more than others.... Read More
The language we use programs our brains. Mastering our language... Read More
Striving to improve our self esteem is on everybody's mind.... Read More
With the probable exception of some basic instincts ? or... Read More
It took me a long time to realise the benefits... Read More
In the self-help and wellness industry, a mission has been... Read More
Unhappy? Stressed out? Do you feel you not only want... Read More
Can you do something for me?Tell me?Please don't think tomorrow.What?Yeah,... Read More
Bernard always had a problem with money.He was always lacking... Read More
Have you truly tried and still failed? Have you pushed... Read More
P.M.A - so what is it? Some people will automatically... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
When you look at your future in terms of your... Read More
I have a 440-page guide on how to simplify my... Read More
Have you truly tried and still failed? Have you pushed... Read More
Who can control a smile sneaking across your face as... Read More
Positive Affirmations are things we say to ourselves that build... Read More
Have you ever dreaded an upcoming presentation, meeting or function... Read More
"Every prayer - every thought, every statement, every feeling -is... Read More
Life is an enigma...It starts without our knowledge, grows without... Read More
As we enter this holiday season, and this time of... Read More
The milkman knocks at the door of the old lady's... Read More
Everything exists twice. First, in your mind. Later, before you... Read More
Look at this glass on the table in front of... Read More
Getting motivated is sometimes easy enough to do, at least... Read More
"If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing... Read More
One of things that Charismatic people share is an unshakeable... Read More
If I say the word "CHANGE" how do you feel?... Read More
Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
Ever had a problem with doubts? Ever felt that nagging... Read More
One of my class fellows was really tensed, when asked... Read More
A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More
Discover how easy it is to improve your relationships. The... Read More
"There is an infinitely worthier subject for philosophers (to study)... Read More
I have studied the idea of changing thoughts to create... Read More
The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More
Maureen worked in an office with twenty other people, processing... Read More
|