The Power of Compliments in Lifting Depression

Giving compliments is a hard task for a lot of people suffering and recovering from depression.

Coming out of depression involves a process of rediscovering and re-learning the powerful and vital social skill of giving compliments.

When I was wrapped in my own depression, my inner suffering locked me away in some kind of socially-isolated cocoon.

Before long, I formed a habit of not noticing the good and the positive about others and myself. I stopped giving complements to people. Why should I, when my own happiness and optimism had vanished? 

When my depression lifted, my ability to compliment others did not return by magic. I was still unable to approach others with a compliment even though I wanted to.

I was so full of fears that if I said something positive to another person, it would appear false and insincere. I would get an odd look. I would feel awful, ashamed or rejected.

Maybe you have similar fears and you can hear your mind whispering, ‘Better not to risk, better to protect yourself from a possible embarrassment’. WRONG!

You have a need to be connected to other people; you have a need to feel loved and significant! Every other person on this planet has the same need!

Giving compliments builds connection between people. It makes them feel good. It makes them feel important. It is a simple and powerful act of generating happiness around you!

Just because you have not done it for a while, does not excuse you from ever doing it again!

Begin giving compliments to people around you. Truly focus on them individually.

What do you like about them? Be specific.

What makes them wonderful? How is the world a better place with them in it? What impact do they have on you and others?

Practice, practice, practice.

I would like to leave you with a link to the short film ‘Validation’, which illustrates the power of compliments so well:

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Stay strong, remain hopeful and seek inspiration!

Photo by: 123rf.com