I saw this video pop up on my feed on FB again today. I'll give you a chance if you want to watch it. There is some self promo at the end, but...it's a YouTube video. If you haven't seen self promo at the end of a YT video, you're not watching the same channels I do.
Here's the real shit. I started doing exactly this. Saying "Thank you" when someone gave me a compliment.
It's harder than it sounds! I still slip up from time to time, but often you might hear someone say something nice about me, or compliment my hair, and I'll respond with "Thank you" and nothing else. Not because the person complimenting me isn't awesome, or there aren't a million in one things I should respond with to compliment them on, but because I am biting my tongue and stopping the qualifying compliments. Which is HARD.
I'm not sure where I first heard of this idea. It wasn't originally this video, but I was intrigued by the idea of stopping the negative self talk in my head. I wanted to be happier in my life, and somewhere along the line, I just decided to stop pushing away compliments and say "Thank You."
You know what happened? I felt stronger, and prettier, and I've been just plain happier since I've started doing this.
Even if you don't believe a damn syllable from the person issuing you the compliment, try saying a simple "Thank you." Then stop. You're using the manners your momma or your daddy taught you, but you're also going to have to let that positive voice sit in the air around you without being battled by qualifiers or your own disagreements of that statement.
I think somewhere along the line we got the idea (or at least I did) that you can't lift the others around you up without being "humble" or putting yourself down. Ladies, knock that shit off.
You know what happens when I'm around other amazing women? I'm inspired. I'm in awe of their beauty and confidence. And there's a huge piece of me that rises to the greatness around me. (And dudes I know...this isn't an exclusively female trait. So don't think you get out of trying this too.)
If we hang out, if we've spent time together and you've seen my eyes get big, or roll in a "Oh girl, I know" expression...guess what, you're one of those people I find beauty in.
So...if you stumbled on this because you're on my friends list, or because you saw one of my books, or because the Google gods have deemed me relevant to your topic search, I issue this challenge to you.
The next time someone compliments you...ESPECIALLY if you don't believe it's true...say nothing else but, "Thank you."
And keep doing it. Stop the automatic reply you've been using in its tracks and say "Thank you." Do it so often that "Thank you" becomes your new automatic response to a compliment.
Let me know how it goes. And let's all surround ourselves with positivity.
~Roxy