“Thanks for the detailed attention you gave to completing that report. You covered all the bases really well.”Ever thought about why we withhold positive words when it would cost us nothing to give them? I have.
“I appreciate your being on time since we have a lot of material to cover.”
“I love the way that shirt brings out the color of your eyes.”
“That was a fantastic dinner. Thank you for the time you spent fixing it. I enjoyed every morsel!”
Here are some of my conclusions.
First, we get busy. We’re moving fast and we don’t take time to notice, much less comment on, the good someone else has done or the value they’ve added to our lives.
And, we’re pre-occupied with ourselves. Most people think about themselves most of the time. Even when we're with those we profess to hold dear, we’re usually reflecting on our own problems, plans and priorities.
Both of these instances can be corrected by simply slowing down and focusing our attention outside ourselves so we're more observant. Then it’s easy to find opportunities to give positive feedback.
The last one is trickier because it’s a reflection of our self-esteem.
At times we consciously withhold praise because we think we’ll appear inferior in some way if we pay someone else a compliment. We have a twisted view that somehow, saying positive words to another takes away from our own self-worth. But the reality is, the opposite is true.
The more you give positive feedback to others, the better you’ll feel about yourself. Your own life is enriched when you are generous with compliments, provided they are heart-felt. The simple act of expressing gratitude and appreciation adds to your own happiness.
So don’t wait. Start today to find something positive to say to every person you interact with. You’ll make your world a better place because you'll be enriching the lives of the people in it, including your own.
