I thought I’d share with today you some ideas of how to praise others and give a compliment that’s not about appearance.
Why should you do that? Well, because there’s far more to someone than how they look!
How to compliment others
Commenting on appearance, even if well-intentioned, could make a person feel that their self-worth is tied to how they look, and there’s a risk it could be misinterpreted.
Instead, why not praise their achievements? Their behaviour? Their positive attitude? Their resilience when things don’t go their way? Their work ethic? The list could go on!
Ideas on how to pay a compliment that’s not about appearance
We all love to receive a compliment now and then, and we should probably give far more compliments to others than we do. After all, as we all know from personal experience, receiving a compliment can be a real boost!
I hope that the following list of compliments inspires you to start using these more often and, of course, to use them on yourself too!
Giving the gift of a sincere compliment to yourself or other people can help to boost happiness and put a welcome spring in someone’s step.
So, go on, share some love today and pay someone a compliment that’s not about appearance. You never know. That compliment might give them a welcome confidence boost and make their day!
“If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.” – Ruthie Lindsay
Suggestions of compliments to share
Why not give some of these compliments a try…
For example, to compliment a supportive friend you might say:
“You’re such a great listener.”
“You always know how to cheer me up when I get down or feel stuck.”
“You’re so funny and always help me find something to smile about.”
“You’re brilliant at making me see things differently.”
“I really appreciate your perspective on this.”
To someone who has qualities that you admire, you might say:
“You’re so compassionate / considerate / thoughtful.”
“I admire your independence / how organised / how calm you are.”
“You’re great with money / people / your children.”
To someone who has coped well in a difficult situation, you might say:
“You’ve been so brave.”
“You’re done brilliantly. Not everyone could have handled this as well as you have.”
“Your strength is incredible!”
“Your reliance is inspiring!”
To someone who has helped you with something, you might say:
“Thank you so much! I’m so grateful for xx.”
“I’m so glad we’re friends!”
“That’s one of the things I love about you. You’re so great at xx.”
“You make me feel happy/at peace with myself (etc.)”
“You’ve helped me to realise….”
“I admire you.”
“I appreciate you and everything you’ve done…”
To compliment someone on their achievements, you might say:
“Well done! I know how hard you’ve worked on this.”
“Totally deserved. You put so much effort in to make this a success.”
“You’re an expert in xx. So many people, including me, look up to you and admire you for what you’ve achieved.”
“You’ve made me so proud!”
“You’re so inspiring!”
“You’re so driven and that’s why you deserve every success.”
Share a compliment with someone today
Which of these compliments will you give yourself or someone else today?
As you can see, there are lots of ways to praise someone and give a compliment that’s not about appearance.
Mark Twain once famously said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment”, and we know what he meant! A kind word or compliment can give both a short-term and long-lasting boost to someone’s self-esteem.
So, don’t hold back. Share some love today!
Related reading: Say something nice to yourself today (and every day)
The power of a compliment
Here at Johanna Elizabeth, I love sharing positive self-affirmations over on Facebook and Instagram (come and follow me if you aren’t already), and I’ve a collection of free inspiring phone backgrounds available to download for free too!
These work in the same way as a compliment; a kind word or positive sentiment can set the tone for a more positive day. They are incredibly powerful!
Johanna
~x~