It feels great when someone gives you a compliment, right? Well, those good vibes extend to self-compliments too! Giving yourself a compliment has an immediate impact on your attitude and overall self-esteem. Kind words, or just words of encouragement, help you feel confident in your own skin, believe in your abilities, and appreciate the person you are. Even though you may want to wait for others to acknowledge or recognize you, there’s just as much (if not more!) value in looking to yourself for a pat on the back. After all, if there’s one good opinion you need in life, it’s your own. Self-compliments are especially important when you’re constantly surrounded by new and challenging experiences—like failed exams, differences of opinion, and a change in major—that can shake your confidence and invite harmful self-criticism.
When paying a self-compliment, you can celebrate a big success, praise smaller wins, or just encourage yourself: “You look gorgeous today,” “You did your best on that research project,” “I’m proud of you for making the track team,” or even, “You’ve got this!” Whatever you need to hear, go ahead and tell yourself.