Can You Accept A Compliment?

I don’t know about you but it’s hard for me to accept a compliment without using sarcasm. My husband will be driving and look over at me and say “you are so beautiful”. It’s so hard not to laugh it off and say “yeah right! I’m a mess right now!”

Maybe you get what I’m saying and can relate. Why is it so hard for us to just say “thank you” without diminishing a compliment given to us? I don’t think a person is conceded to accept a compliment so I wonder why we view it like this when one is directed towards us…

I have a theory that there are 2 main reasons why we can’t accept a compliment:

1. We feel guilty or conceded if we accept the compliment.
2. We are deeply insecure and can’t see positive things in us.

To be honest, I think both reasons explain why it’s hard for me to accept compliments. I have a background of deep insecurity about my abilities and my physical appearance. You may see that you also share these reasons why it’s difficult for you too.

Whatever our reason is, I believe it’s healthy to begin accepting compliments more graciously. We may feel like we don’t deserve the kind words or don’t agree with them at all but it’s okay. The only time we shouldn’t accept credit is when it belongs to someone else so just make that known if that’s ever the case.

There are only 2 ways we need to start responding: smiling and saying “thank you”. It might be painful at first, but please join me in doing this. People can see the world in a different way than we can. Don’t diminish the positive things that others see in you.

Above is a picture of me and my husband, Garrett on a date last month [ignore my hair sticking up]. Well, I wouldn’t really call it a date. We were waiting on oil to be changed in our car but we walked next door to grab lunch. He paid me another compliment and you’d be proud of me because I actually said “thank you” and smiled.

I didn’t realize this until recently but making a compliment seem like it is untrue is almost a slap in the face to the person giving it. You also rob them of being a blessing to you. In return, you miss out on the blessing and encouragement they are trying to give to you.

It may seem like it’s not a big deal but there is power in this. It truly is a blessing to give a heartfelt compliment or encouraging word to someone who accepts it. We need to look for ways to compliment and encourage others around us as we also begin accepting it from others.

A Prayer For You

Lord Jesus, helps us not to offend others or diminish their kind words to us. Show us how to see positive things about ourselves. Teach us to graciously accept compliments and give them freely as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Stay hopeful!

Do you ever find it difficult to accept compliments?