Why Can’t We Accept Compliments? #NowBelieveIt

Try a little experiment. Think of someone you love and respect, and offer her a compliment. Then watch what she does. Chances are very, very good that she’ll deflect your kind words, if not outright tell you you’re just plain wrong.

Why is it so hard to accept a compliment? Maybe it’s because society has imposed—and we’ve accepted—an expectation of modesty that calls for us to appear humble or demure. It shouldn’t be unattractive to agree with someone when she tells you did a good job.

Or maybe it’s because our own opinions of ourselves are low—much lower than they should be. When you think about it, a lot of what we all do in our daily lives is pretty amazing, especially considering the non-stop juggling act our lives can be.

That’s why Nutrisystem created #NowBelieveIt for our new site, The Leaf. We want you to lean in and listen to the compliments you receive. Stop for a minute and consider what people are telling you—you’re a good friend, you’re a great mom, you work hard, you’re smart, you’re pretty—and take it to heart. Why shouldn’t you? You really are pretty amazing.

Then pay it forward. Tell someone what you love about her.

It’s especially important for young girls to understand that giving and receiving compliments is a good thing. So many studies show that their confidence plummets as they approach adolescence. It’s important for us to show them the power of compliments. That’s why we’re supporting Girl Talk. Because a woman’s self-esteem has its roots in a girl’s self-esteem.

A single compliment can be a pebble dropped into still water. Let’s watch the ripples spread. Let’s turn the ripples into waves. Let’s all believe it.

Transcript: #NowBelieveIt

Text: Why can’t we accept compliments?

Friend 1 : One, two, three…

(Laughter)

Friend 1: My god, when was the last time we got together like this?

Friend 2: It’s been forever!

Friend 1: Awww, Kate, you look good, girl!

Kate: Oh…uh…if you post that, would you mind not tagging me in it?

[0:00:20]

Hip Coworker: Sara, amazing job on that presentation today!

Sara: (Scoffs)

Hip Coworker: Seriously, you were brilliant.

Sara: Really? Come on, I think probably everybody thought that I didn’t know what I was talking about.

[0:00:31]

Don: Wow! Your spin classes are really paying off! You’re killing it up this hill!

Wife: Oh shut up. You know I’m still so out of shape.

Don: What’s with all the negativity all the time?

[0:00:45]

Daughter: Mom? Are you really going to sit there and watch? You’re the best swimmer! Come on!

Mom: No one here needs to see me and my spare tire.

[0:01:00]

A girl’s confidence peaks at age 9 but plummets after that

Kate: Seven in ten teen girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way.

Wife: How did it get this way?

Sara: And why is it so hard to accept compliments? To believe that we’re brilliant?

[0:01:18]

Kate: Beautiful.

Wife: Strong.

Mom: The best.

Wife: What if instead of feeling embarrassed,

Mom: When someone paid us a compliment,

Kate: We acknowledged it in ourselves and each other.

Sara: All it takes is a little practice.

[0:01:30]

We’re getting compliments.

Now let’s start believing them.

#NowBelieveIt

Sara: Wow, thanks! Girl, I could not have done it without you!

Kate: Thank you! Looking good, feeling good.

Wife: You’re not doing so bad yourself! Come on.

[0:01:45]

Mom: Hey, I’ll race you to the other end!

Nutrisystem has partnered with mygirltalk.org to inspire a generation of confident women and girls.

#NowBelieveIt