We Should Compliment Each Other More

Introduction

Complimenting is something I've been doing pretty intensely since high school, and it's become a core value of mine.

So, for today's blog post, I wanted to talk about the importance of complimenting and how this practice has changed my life for the better.

Why Compliments Matter

We all want to be loved and appreciated for the things that make us ourselves.

Because of this, we can often worry whether people actually like these characteristics.

Complimenting counteracts this worry by explicitly stating, "I see this part of you, and I appreciate it."

Yes, appreciation can be expressed in other ways, but compliments allow the appreciation to be explicitly directed toward a specific characteristic.

For example, I still think about the time my friend Ava complimented my hair before a really nerve-wracking band concert.

I was really scared to be seen by a large crowd of band directors and muscians that I admired, and that compliment helped me feel like I was safe and loved.

That compliment helped me feel validated for a part of my appearance that I often worry about which allowed me to get through that concert more easily.

It was nice knowing that someone saw beauty in something I often criticized myself for.

But I've also noticed that complimenting others, like I was complimented that day, helps me too.

Compliments & Noticing Beauty

When I first started giving compliments, I felt like I was fighting to find something to say, but now I feel like I have the opposite problem.

Complimenting others has trained me to notice the beauty in the people around me.

A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting a friend from college, and I found myself unable to pick just one thing to compliment — I wanted to compliment everything!

Had I not started this practice of giving compliments, I don’t think I would’ve noticed all of the amazing qualities in the people around me, and I think that’s really special.

Because of complimenting, I’ve become more aware of everything I love about the people around me, and it’s helped me feel more appreciative of the life I have.

Conclusion

I think the world would be a much better place if we all felt safe enough to be more loving.

This starts with making the choice to embrace the vulnerability that comes with complimenting others.

It can be scary showing someone that you care about them, but overcoming this fear is an important step in building a better world.

I hope this post inspires you to appreciate the important people in your life while you still can.

You never know how much time we have, so I want to spend the time I do have making sure the people I care about know I love them.

I'm so blessed to have the incredible friends, family, and colleagues that I do, and I hope they know how much I admire them every single day.

Thanks for reading!

— JM

P.S. - To this day, that band concert was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my entire life. Soloing in front of all of those talented people, while representing one of the most important groups I've ever been apart of, was terrifying.

If you've ever wondered what I look like when I'm terrified, you can watch the below excerpt of the concert. It's funny looking back on how nervous I was that day. Like, I'm obviously trying not to cry on stage LOL. Anyway, I'm thankful for Ava's compliment that got me through that day and for Mrs. Thorne creating this incredible archive of my high school band experience.

McHenry High School Symphonic Band @ IMEC 02/01/2020 - Armenian Dances Pt. II

---

I’ve set a goal for 2025, and I need your help to hit it. I want to grow my email list to 50 subscribers. Pretty soon, I'll be sharing exclusive content with just my exclusive subscribers. To sign up, just click the link below, type your email, and hit enter. You’ll be glad you did. : )))

SUBSCRIBE