what is the best way to handle or accept a compliment?

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I grew up as a kid who used to be always teased by other people because of how different i look from my brother and sisters. This led me to grow up as a lady with not much self confidence. However, there are times when someone would give me a compliment. It may be just a simple compliment about how i look, how i think or what i have done. Most of the time, i return the compliment with either a joke or a remark meant to be a joke because i am not used to people complimenting me. Do you have any suggestions as to how i should accept compliments without hurting other people or let the person think that i did not appreciate it?