Change The Way You Compliment

I recently challenged myself to pay compliments to not only my daughter, but all of the females in my life on things other than physical appearance. Take a day to reflect on the things that you say to others. It's such a weird thing, because we are just being kind, but a lot of the time, our kindness and our compliments are based on appearance! It is true, think about it!

Examples: “I love the way your hair looks!” “You look super cute today!” “I love that new top!”

It has been socially conditioned in us! In a world where society is continuously trying to tell girls young and old what is desirable, what is acceptable, what "looks good” -- most of the time with unrealistic expectations -- what if we challenge ourselves to find things from within to complement!

It's actually tougher than I thought… Not because it is hard to find kind things to say to people about their personalities, their intellect, their inner value and worth, but because it is so ingrained in us to naturally comment on appearance. For me, it takes self-awareness...but so worth the effort to remind the women (and men) around me they are amazing humans!!

Here's a list of my 10 favorites:

1. I love how your kindness brightens the room!

2. Great work!

3. Nice job persisting to finish that task!

4. I love how your kindness shines with others!

5. I love how you really thought that through!

6. Great job! I can see how you're really putting in the extra effort!

7. You are such a strong person!

8. Thank you for who you are!

9. I love how you treat others!

10. Being around you brightens my day! (My personal fave)