Compliments and gratitude go together like peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, spaghetti and meatballs – well you get the drift. Everyone loves them – even when they are not able to accept them easily.
Think about it for a minute. Don’t you love to receive compliments? It’s great for your self-esteem and just plain feels good to hear someone else’s respect or admiration. A few complimentary words lighten your mood and give you the strength to push forward with a renewed sense of energy.
Compliments reinforce that you’re doing something right and your efforts are being appreciated. It only takes a moment to notice something small about someone but those few words can really make a positive difference in that person’s day.
Compliment Your Family 
Showing your appreciation to those you love has a dual purpose: it shows how grateful you are to have them in your life while at the same time acknowledging the special work they’ve done.
Here are a few examples of ways to express your gratitude: “Thanks for clearing the dishes. You did a great job!” “I really appreciate your help with dinner tonight! It was a wonderful meal.” “I am so thankful for your love and support. You’ve really helped me get through a tough day.” Be specific when you compliment so the words are meaningful.
Children and adults alike are encouraged to help more if they feel valued and receive positive acknowledgment. Hearing compliments on a regular basis also teaches children how to appreciate the people in their lives. Children repeat what they hear, so if you want your children to compliment others, take time to compliment them first.
Compliment Your Co-workers
There are two types of managers in business: one who appreciates their workers for a job well done and another who just expects the job to get done without any acknowledgment because the workers are getting paid to do a job. Obviously we all need to treat each other with the respect and dignity we deserve. People are not machines, and their efforts should be appreciated and noticed. Even if you are not a manager, you can still appreciate and compliment your co-workers.
Here are some examples of how to express gratitude at work. “Thanks for staying late today. I’ll be sure to tell the boss how hard you’ve been working lately.” “The client really loved the report you wrote.” “I really appreciate you taking the time out to help me with this. It means a lot to me!” Make sure that your compliments are genuine. No one likes superficial lip service.
Adding a personal touch to the office by giving specific and detailed compliments can be a huge motivator. Your colleagues will trust and respect you, and appreciate you for your willingness to praise.
Compliment Strangers 
In today’s society very few people take the time to strike up a conversation with a total stranger. We have to remember that people are brought into our lives every day for a variety of reasons, and you can deeply affect someone’s mood just by being nice to them.
Of course, you need to be cautious, and shouldn’t divulge your entire life’s story the first time you meet someone, but what you can do is notice something good about a person and tell them. Show your gratitude for meeting this person because this experience just might teach you something new about yourself.
Here are a few examples of things you can look for to give an honest compliment about: Is the person a sharp dresser? Then compliment the outfit or a particular part of the outfit. Is he or she a genuinely nice person to others? Let them know that the kindness was uplifting to you. Are the person’s children very well-behaved? Compliment the parenting skills. So many parents don’t see their own value.
The Key
The key to expressing your gratitude is keeping your eyes open to see the simple gifts in your day. By paying attention to the actions of those around you, you’ll not only help others gain confidence, you will also let people know that you genuinely care.
Make a goal to compliment at least one person each and every day for a week, then two a day for the next week, and work your way up. You’ll start appreciating the small things more in life and you’ll brighten someone’s day at the same time.
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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