Overcoming Challenges
Difficulty Receiving Praise
When compliments feel uncomfortable or untrue
Someone offers a compliment and you immediately deflect, dismiss, or explain it away. Praise feels like a test you're about to fail or a lie you don't deserve.
Why Praise Feels Wrong
For perfectionists, compliments create cognitive dissonance. If you believe you're not enough, praise feels like evidence of others' poor judgment—or their inevitable disappointment.
- You deflect compliments automatically
- Praise triggers anxiety or discomfort
- You point out flaws in your own work
- You distrust positive feedback
"Receiving gracefully is a form of generosity to the giver."
Learning to Receive
Accepting praise doesn't mean you're arrogant. It means you're letting someone's appreciation land. It honors both of you.
Practice: The next time someone compliments you, simply say "Thank you." Nothing more. Let it be awkward. Let it be true.