Introduction

Genuine and heartfelt words, even if somewhat awkward, can have a profound impact and being able to formulate them isn't obvious nor innate. It's a continuous learning requiring practice. Over time, you learn to articulate your feelings around compliments addressed to people you like, making it a joyful experience for both you and the recipient.

Complimenting needs to be genuine, timely, and appropriately balanced, neither too much nor too little. When done right, it can brighten someone's day and simultaneously bring a sense of satisfaction to you.

The role of Self-Care in Mastering the Art of Complimenting

Often, the journey to effectively express appreciation towards others begins with ourselves. I find it somehow very difficult to appreciate what the others are offering if I'm not capable of enough self-appreciation, which might induce thoughts that take me away from the present moment.

I believe that the ability to give sincere and appropriate compliments is rooted in our mental and emotional well-being. In essence, taking continuous care of ourselves – our mental space, our stress levels – provides the foundation for this skill.

Being in a balanced and positive state of mind gives us the space to truly observe others, to appreciate their qualities, their actions, the uniqueness of their personality. This state, which is not fixed and fluctuates with ups and downs, requires vigilance and lucidity on our emotional state, but it allows us to genuinely experience the moments that spark the emotions or feelings leading to an authentic compliment.

Additionally, adequate complimenting creates a virtuous feedback loop. As we become more capable of expressing sincere appreciation, it uplifts both our own mood and that of the person we compliment. And we induce a positive emotion in a person, who will sometimes return the favor without our expectation.

Finally, it's ok to not be in the state or feeling tired, not available to have small-talks nor giving compliments. Being able to notice it and express it is valuable and sometimes required to maintain healthy and virtuous social interactions. But it's another story and another skill to work out.

Further readings

If these words have resonated with you, you might be interested in delving deeper into my other writings. I recommend exploring the following articles:

• Reflections on Modern Life and Our Disconnection from Our Inner Selves (hashnode.dev)

• My Take on Self-Care and Its Impact on Complimenting (hashnode.dev)

Feel free to check out these articles, as they might pique your curiosity as well.