Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Nourishing Souls With Compliments

Have you ever wondered what stops one from complimenting or appreciating your gestures, no matter how minute they are? Why do souls take each other for granted? Why is it so easy for one to shower you with criticisms but not compliments? If we could make a conscious effort to eat healthily just to nourish our body, why cant we do the same by nourishing someone's soul with appreciation and compliments? Does it boil down to cultural differences or the way we were nutured?

Complimenting can be therapeutic for us. If you ask me, I would say compliments generate mutual feelings of happiness and joy between the givers and recipients. Compliments to others are like small gifts we give ourselves when we pay attention to how we appreciate those around us. The interesting part about compliments is that the giver can be transformed by the experience.

How many of us have made an attempt to notice the good that people do to us instead of looking at their negatives? How many of us are aware that giving compliments validates their presence? By simply expressing how impressed we are, we make them feel acknowledged. Ultimately, we make them feel less alone and show them that we care. We need not go the extra mile for this. A genuine smile, a sincere: "thank you", "you look ravishing", "this dish tastes fantastic" is all it takes.

Why is such a simple, effortless gesture so tough for one to put in place I wonder? Would love to know your take on this.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by and saying how much you enjoy my blog! I just finished reading over yours and enjoy it as well! :-)

    Take care!

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  2. Thank you for visiting my blog.

    Occasionally I catch myself withholding a compliment. It has to do with my own insecurities: the competitive need to keep someone else down in order to protect my own self esteem. Really warped thinking and negative behaviour that does more harm to myself than good.

    When I catch myself, I immediately give the compliment. Gives me & the receiver good feelings.

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  3. Thanks for stopping by my side :) I appreciated the encouragement!

    I think we forget that other people are just like us - that they like the things we like and fear the things we fear. Yes, there are some individual differences, but for the most part we all want acceptance and love. And to be noticed.

    I do comopliment others, but probably not enough. I get compliments too, but again probably not enough :) At least in the day to day world. Some of us never notice things in our own lives, much less pay attention to others. A lot of us go through the motions without really being aware of anything - too busy and too stressed. Sad.

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  4. First off, I want to thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your kind comment. It made my day! :)

    As for your question - I'm not sure why people hold back compliments. Maybe some people don't notice new haircuts or slimmer figures. Maybe they are afraid they will give someone their power by giving them a compliment or credit for something. People are strange. No doubt about it.

    I tend to think that I generally do a good job of giving compliments - but this is definitely food for thought, and I'll be making sure that I'm spreading the love. :)

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  5. Thanks Kim :).Fair enough. Like you said, maybe they are afraid they will give someone their power by giving them a compliment or credit for something. But then, why are these very people the first to criticise? Its sad isnt it. You make a conscious effort to blow someone's self esteem but you dont make an effort to boost?

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  6. Hi gals,
    Aceswyf, thank you for following my blog :). Seashore and Diana, I feel you both. I do compliment others sincerely and genuinely when it is due.But sadly enough, this doesnt take place that often in families. When I lost weight, apart from a few family members, no one else complimented me on my new figure.But on the contrary, in the past when I gained a few kgs here and there, boy, werent they quick enough to point that out. Thats sad isnt it.You work your butt off to lose weight and hardly anyone notices?????? Maybe they do but they cant bring themselves to say something flattering about it. At the end of the day, I came to the realisation that they are insecured. That's why they cant even bring themselves to compliment you.

    Anyways, thank you for dropping and sharing your take on this.I appreciate it heaps :).

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Your contribution is very much appreciated. Thank You :)