The Power of a Compliment

I was recently reminded of the power of a compliment. While we were walking through a department store, Charlotte (age 6) walked up to a mannequin:

Charlotte: Looking good girl, work it, work it!

Me: Charlotte, why are you talking to a fake person?

Charlotte: Mom, everyone needs some love, plus her outfit is really, really cute!

Today, more than ever, our world is filled with such a huge amount of negativity. We are surrounded by fear, pandemic, hate, and controversy. There is so much harmful noise clouding our day to day lives, it is hard to tune it out and try to focus on the positive. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all the problems in the world, and hard not to accidentally pass on that burden to our impressionable children.

So, what can we do to make each other’s lives a little better? How can we show our support of and appreciation for those around us during even the darkest hours?

I was frustrated and in a rush at the grocery store the other day — a pretty typical experience. When I was checking out, the cashier looked at me with a huge smile and complimented me on my dress. This one sentence exchange was very fast and it truly caught me off guard. I was so surprised to receive a compliment from a stranger, which I am obviously still thinking about today.

That encounter made me recall another incident. A few months ago, I was eating with my two daughters at a local restaurant. A woman came up to my table and told me how well behaved my children were (a rare occurrence–the kids must have been really hungry and/or tired). Not only was it nice of her to take the time to walk over and tell me her observation, but it seemed truly genuine and heartfelt.

Each compliment, from strangers, brought a smile to my face, forcing me to take a second to pause and really appreciate the moment.

It is pretty common to give compliments to a friend or family member; you praise them after they get a new haircut, cook a great meal, or do something thoughtful for you. I know I try to share positive feelings with those I love and care about as much as possible (although I should do it more). But when was the last time I told a complete stranger that I liked their outfit, or that their daughter was adorable or that I appreciated them? I honestly cannot recall when I last gave a total stranger a compliment.

Saying something nice to someone only takes a few seconds and can truly make someone’s day. We spend so much time and energy focusing on all the negativity around us, what if instead we focused on the beauty and positivity?

Giving a compliment is also contagious.

I know how it made me feel to get that complement the other day, and now I am committed to passing

it on to others. Although we cannot erase the challenges we are currently facing, each of us can make a small attempt to share some joy and support within our community.

I know I can always use some additional encouragement, and as Charlotte said, we are all in need of some love. My challenge to each of you: compliment one person you don’t know tomorrow, even if they are a mannequin!