Compliments: 20 Compliment Ideas

A compliment is a verbal or written remark that expresses admiration, respect, or praise for another person or group. The definition of compliment includes the general expression of good wishes or affirmations on quality, as in the example sentence, “My compliments to the chef.” Studies show that compliments can activate the brain’s reward center, promote positivity, and help build self-esteem and overall good mental health.

You can compliment anyone, from family members to coworkers to strangers on the street. Some compliments include the following:

1. 1. Accomplishments: You can compliment someone about their past or recent achievements. You could compliment a significant personal win like reaching a career goal or a minor victory like guessing the word of the day on a challenging crossword puzzle.
2. 2. Appearance: You can view these compliments as flattering comments about how someone looks on a particular occasion or about attributes like beautiful eyes, skin, or hair.
3. 3. Creativity: Compliments about creativity might include kind statements about someone’s artistic ability or creative solutions to issues, projects, or problems.
4. 4. Intelligence: When you compliment someone’s intelligence, you could give them a sincere compliment about a specific situation or playfully tell them they’re a smart cookie in a general sense.
5. 5. Personality: Compliments about someone’s personality cover many areas and might include statements about the person having a great sense of humor, being a great listener, or always seeing the silver lining in difficult situations.
6. 6. Whole person: You can compliment someone about how you view them, such as telling them they’re an awesome friend or a great sister.

The best compliments come from the heart and are unique and specific to the person you’re addressing. Consider the following compliment suggestions:

1. 1. You have a beautiful smile.
2. 2. You always light up a room.
3. 3. I love your style.
4. 4. That color looks great on you.
5. 5. I love your sense of humor; you always make me laugh.
6. 6. I’m impressed by your ability to stay calm and focused when things are stressful.
7. 7. Your ideas are so innovative and fresh.
8. 8. You’re always so helpful.
9. 9. I appreciate your honesty.
10. 10. I always have fun when I’m with you.
11. 11. You’re stronger than you think you are.
12. 12. I’m grateful you’re in my life.
13. 13. You’re an inspiration to me.
14. 14. You add so much to our community; I’m glad you’re here.
15. 15. I admire that you always speak up with your opinion.
16. 16. I always feel comfortable being myself around you.
17. 17. You’ve brought such joy into my life.
18. 18. I love how curious you are about how things work.
19. 19. You’re such a good team player and considerate of others.
20. 20. You’re so patient when dealing with others’ problems.

Giving a compliment might feel awkward at first, but with practice, you’ll experience the benefits of improved relationships and an overall sense of wellness. Follow these guidelines when giving a compliment:

1. 1. Be specific. The more detailed your compliment, the more impactful it feels to the person receiving it. Telling someone they’re a good listener is lovely, but telling them about a specific time when they made you feel heard them feels more meaningful.
2. 2. Embrace sincerity. Most people can sense when a compliment is insincere, so tell the truth when giving praise. Avoid giving compliments you don’t believe, such as telling them they’re attractive when you don’t find them attractive or telling someone they did a good job when they failed at the task.
3. 3. Include strangers. Avoid reserving compliments just for people you know well. A well-timed and honest compliment to someone you don’t know can make their day, even if it’s about something simple. Avoid complimenting people you don’t know well on their physical appearance.
4. 4. Notice the good things. Pay attention to your family, friends, loved ones, and coworkers, and note their good qualities and accomplishments. When you spend a lot of time with people, it’s easy to only focus on problems or negative issues that need solutions. Incorporate taking in the positive and giving compliments regularly to forge stronger connections and make a habit of noticing the good.

In some cases, you may find receiving compliments creates anxiety, especially if you suffer from low self-esteem. Follow these tips when responding to a compliment:

1. 1. Avoid rejecting the compliment. Sometimes receiving compliments feels uncomfortable, making you impulsively want to give credit to someone else, turn it into a joke, or tell the person why you don’t deserve the accolades. Though you may feel all these things internally, do your best to avoid verbalizing your self-doubt, which could make the other person feel foolish or rejected.
2. 2. Express your gratitude. Accept the compliment as you would a gift, saying “thank you.” If you wish, you can expand on your appreciation by adding how the compliment made a difference (either as a positive emotion or as an encouragement to keep going).
3. 3. It’s about the giver as much as it’s about you. When someone compliments you, they tell you how your behavior or actions impacted them, which may feel like a vulnerable act for them. Remember that how you respond can have an emotional effect on the receiver.
4. 4. Redirect compliments meant for someone else. If someone compliments you about an action or work you didn’t do, redirect them to the right person while supporting their desire to give a compliment. For example, if someone compliments you about a work project you didn’t do, you might say, “That’s so nice of you to say that! Actually, Kim completed that job. I’m sure she’d love to hear your feedback.”

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