Accepting a compliment ... Is it hard to do?
By TonyaBarton
@TonyaBarton (89)
United States
March 10, 2007 10:13pm CST
It took me a very long time to be able to say the simple words "Thank You" without thinking "yeah right" ... "What do want from me?" I know it takes a lot of possitive compliments to undo a negative remark... Have you overcome your past negatives and been able to accept that someone thinks you are; Beautiful, intelligent, outstanding, remarkable, talented or any other admiration?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I ALWAYS appreciate a compliment
Lately I doubt myself since the two women I have been dealing with and am in love with are selfish and mean.
@viviansnow (29)
• China
11 Mar 07
So do I...
I like to say Thank you to others when getting compliments....
you know, it's not very hard to say that two word...
@TonyaBarton (89)
• United States
11 Mar 07
In my opinion it hard to say those two words when they seem unbelievable. When you have been distorted into something of a "negative" through your lifetime and you receive a compliment, in many cases you might just be stunned. Thinking "What"
"That is so the opposite of what I've been taught?"
What do you think then?
I've always felt ugly ...
Someone says "you're beautiful"
How do accept ... even if you say thank you ... What is it you think in your mind? I guess that's the real question here
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I have to say that I am with you. It was just recently that I really learned how to take a compliment gracefully. As you say a simple "thank you " is enough and an appropriate response but some of us tend to keep the negatives in mind and then not be as gracious as we could be.
@TonyaBarton (89)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I agree. As you respond with your gracious "thank you", your mind is simultaneously thinking "what are you talking about?" I desire to believe the compliments, but I don't know how.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I'm sad to say that no, I still cannot take a compliment to this day and all negative comments seem to outweigh the positive ones. I think this is perfectly understandable though when you are constantly hearing people talk behind their friends/family members behind their backs. It's hard enough to trust someone let alone take compliments from them. It would be nice being able to accept compliments from people though, imagine how much your self-esteem level would rise!
@jean_rose (415)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
I also had trouble accepting a compliment in my teenage years. There was even a time when I hit a boy for telling me I was pretty. The disbelief sprang from all those negative comments I went through as a child and the bullying. It took longer for me to know my real worth as a person. I wondered why people would come up to me for advise, for help or for some things. So I thought that if people looked up to me in that way, there must be something special in me. It was a long journey towards self acceptance, but I have finally made it.
