Metropol Inspire: The pleasure of a compliment

Not everyone enjoys receiving a compliment. Often that is because they’re shy, embarrassed, want to downplay it, or just unsure how to gracefully receive it.

Researchers have found several awkward ways in which people typically react to compliments. One of these is rejecting it by directly contradicting the compliment giver. An example is being complimented for work on a project, and replying that you didn’t really do anything. Downplaying a compliment, “this old thing”, in response to a cute dress is another. People with low self-esteem often struggle to accept a compliment, as do some who have high self-esteem yet are unsure of their own capabilities.

Thank you 

Saying thanks is the simplest and often the best way to accept a compliment. Here are three steps to receiving them gracefully.

Pause: You might be tempted to interrupt the compliment giver even before he/she completes speaking due to the discomfort you’re experiencing. Control the urge to brush off their words before they’re done. Pause.

Absorb: Take in the compliment you just received. Give yourself a millisecond to do a tiny happy dance in your brain. When you allow yourself to wholly take in the compliment, your body language will automatically change. You may nod, smile or do a little dance. Your body language will show the person that they’ve had a positive impact on you.

Acknowledge: A simple “thank you” works as the perfect response to a compliment. You could also acknowledge the compliment in other words that basically serve to thank the person, for example, “It made my day.” If you’d like to add more, do so after you’ve acknowledged the compliment. For example, if you’ve received a compliment for what was a team effort, you could first say thanks and then go on to mention your team. This way, you’re accepting the compliment while sharing credit.

Hamlin High Tea

The popular High Tea for Hamlin will be held in Christchurch this year on Saturday 7 September, from 2-4pm at the Aldersgate Centre.

Get set for an afternoon of high tea, musical entertainment by violinist Fiona Pears, and a presentation from the Hamlin Fistula NZ team following their recent visit to Ethiopia.  It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the impactful work the group is doing. The Hamlin Charitable Fistula Hospitals Trust (Hamlin Fistula New Zealand) is a Kiwi charity committed to raising funds and awareness to treat women in Ethiopia suffering from life-threatening obstetric fistula, and to prevent these terrible childbirth injuries from happening to others. The physical and psychological consequences of this childbirth injury are debilitating, traumatic, and heartbreaking.

For more information and tickets, please visit: www.hamlinfistula.org.nz/high-tea