I met a beautiful woman this weekend. She was tall, dark with soulful eyes. She dressed perfectly for her body in flowing, colourful off-the-shoulder dresses. Six other women and I were gushing over how gorgeous she was. To her face.

She beamed and said, "Thanks for all the love ladies."

Her response struck me. Her ability to accept the compliments so elegantly added to her beauty.

She didn't let them bounce as most women so often do. She let them stick. And we all felt so much better for it.

Do you ever notice that people, us femmes especially, deflect compliments like they are pointy and dangerous weapons as if to shield ourselves from their poison?

What's that about?

Compliments are the opposite of poison. Their purpose is to make people feel good. Why can't we accept them with ease and grace?

This is something I'm working on since reading (obsessively 4 times) Gay Hendricks' book, The Big Leap. It is all about expanding your ability to feel good and have your life go well all the time.

He says that one of the ways we block the flow of positive energy in our lives is by deflecting compliments.

"Oh! you look gorgeous. I love that dress!"
"This old thing?" (People actually say that.) "I've had this for years, it's all ratty, and there is a stain on it."

Compliment successfully deflected. Positive flow of energy successfully blocked.

Or

"Omigosh, this food is sooooo good."
"I left it in the oven too long... it's kinda dry."

Compliment successfully deflected. Positive flow of energy successfully blocked.

Do you see how common this is?

A personal example comes to mind. Once on a bus, a sexy, stranger guy said, "I like your bag." (To me, about my bag.)

I went in to this big blah blah blah thing about where I got it and who gave it to me.

As he hopped off the bus he said, "It doesn't matter. Just say thank you."

Thank you sexy, stranger guy. I totally get it.

Imagine the quality of the exchange if you were to just say, "Thank you?" Everyone involved feels better. The giver and the receiver of the compliment both find some delight in that moment.

Because I want you feeling good in your body and your life as much as possible, the next time you are given a compliment, take the time to receive it.

Do these 3 things:

1. Smile
2. Inhale
3. Just say, "Thank you."

Say nothing else.

Just say, "Thank you."

It completes the cycle of energy, fulfilling the purpose of the kind words. You wouldn't want to stand in the way of the compliment reaching its destiny, would you?

No. Of course you wouldn't.

So just say, "Thank you."

I want you to try this for the next 7 days, and notice how you feel. Report back and leave a comment. I'd love to find out how it went for you.

To your delightful, thriving life,
Dr. Tonia