When you’re having a less than kind of day.

I have never been good at accepting compliments. I’ve gotten better over the years, and now accept them with grace and gratitude. Appreciating it for the gift it is. No longer denying the giver this genuine act of kindness because of my inability to receive it. For what it is. A kindness.

I suspect many of you reading this, also know this truth. From either the perspective of the giver or receiver. Or perhaps both.

Someone gives you a compliment, and your natural reaction is to fumble and bumble your way through accepting it. If you’re like me, I have often found myself on the receiving end of a compliment and somehow responded with what could only be described as a verbal throwup, regurgitating a tangled mess of words that do not honour the complimentary nature of their heartfelt gift. Often an embarrassing mess of words and hand movements, usually ending with me shaking my head and thinking to myself, “Just say thank you. Why is that so freaking hard.”

I have gotten better.

Thankfully.

Self-awareness and maturity have played a crucial part in this personal development feat. Thankfully, I no longer fully evacuate my insides in an explosive verbal vomit to somehow diminish my deserving of said compliment. Now, I just say thank you. Much to the delight – I’m sure – of the compliment giver.

Yesterday was a feeling down kind of day. Not for any particular reason. No major event or sudden loss triggered this feeling of blahness. Just one of those days of feeling down and uninspired. It happens. Thankfully, I know it will pass, and brighter days are on the horizon.

A random day of feeling less than.

Less than, my potential.

Less than, productive.

Less than, creative.

You get the picture.

Less than, (insert your choice of adjective here). That. That feeling.

So, it got me thinking. Surely, I’m not the only one who feels this way from time to time. I’d venture to guess, many of us do, especially now. 2020 has forced us all to dig a little deeper for inspiration. Am I right?

And it sparked an idea. On those less than days, we can all use an extra nudge. A reminder of how we were – how we are – more than.

So, getting back to the whole bit about accepting and receiving compliments. Compliments are gifts. To both, the giver and receiver. I love giving someone a compliment. I find myself giving them out more freely and without hesitation now. The young guy sanitizing carts at the store – yup – he gets a compliment. “You’re doing a great job. Thank you.” I don’t know if it mattered a heck of a whole lot to him, but it sure felt good to give it. And I think his little nod and matching smile with a thank you acknowledgment indicates it landed softly on his shoulders.

Let’s harness the power of compliments, and invite all those kindness nuggets to fuel the shift from feeling less than to more than.

Lets fill the uncertain expanse that surrounds us with good old heartfelt compliments. To each other. For each other.

For the next few months, every time someone gives you a compliment, accept it with grace and gratitude. And when you get a chance, write it down, fold it up, and place it in your favourite mug, beer glass, wine glass, or whatever holding unit strikes your fancy.

Big or small. It doesn’t matter. A compliment is a compliment.

Deposit each and every one in your emotional bank of compliments. If you need another mug, grab one. Fill it up. Build a reserve.

On the days, you feel less than, visit your emotional bank of compliments, and make a withdrawal. Read one. Two. Three. However many you need until you feel the shift happen. A movement from feeling less than back towards more than.

Invite those compliments to lift you. Draw strength from the heartfelt kindness and gift it was, and continues to be. Rely on it time and again. Keep reading all those little pieces of paper – treasured kindness nuggets – that were gifted to you. From strangers. Friends, colleagues, family. Let their kind words fill you up.

Let it remind you.

Especially when you are having a less than kind of day.

You are always more than.

With gratitude,

Nicole Osmond

Customer Success Coach

As a Customer Success Coach and 3 X business owner, I am living my passion and helping companies succeed by cultivating a customer committed mindset.

A Writer with Heart – I weave words together to stimulate, elevate, and motivate. My blog is my canvas to share my ‘experience nuggets’ with you! Thanks for stopping by! With gratitude, always – Nicole