Just say, "Thank you!".

I have this vivid memory of being rebuked by my best friend. She had asked me to help her with a college assignment. They were making a mock news broadcast video about the short story A&P and pretending to interview women coming out of the grocery store and asking how they were treated based on their clothing. I wore a tube top and a pair of cut off shorts and as I approached my friend to get started she said, " You look beautiful! I wish I looked like that in a tube top." I wrinkled my nose at her and said something derogatory about my appearance. What she said next stuck with me. She replied, " Don't do that. Accept the compliment. Just say, " Thank you!" "

Ladies, I get it! We are bombarded with images of airbrushed photoshopped models, and we are surrounded by other women have beauties that we do not, we feel insecure and inferior. However, when we push compliments away we do two harmful things.

1. We reject the person giving the compliment. Someone is reaching out with a kind word having noticed something praise worthy about us and we shut them down. I know there are those that flatter but there are also people that find it hard to speak up. We want to create an atmosphere that liberates people to speak especially when the words they say uplift and encourage! By accepting graciously, we make it easier for them to be encouraging and uplifting in the future which benefits others!

2. When we reject a compliment, it reinforces our negative opinion about our appearance. You continue to chip away at your body image, and not only that, you are being that example to others. For the women that look up to you, for the women that don't have the physical beauty that you were given, when you insult yourself, you make them feel even less attractive. If you, who they admire, are saying there is a standard of beauty that you don't measure up to, what does that say about them? When you accept the compliment, you break that cycle in yourself and in others!

When we freely accept compliments and when we look for beauty in others and share that with them, we expand our society's beauty standard. We affirm those around us and make it clear that beauty can be found in our differences. Beauty isn't found in a certain skin color, body shape, or a few select features. It isn't found in one style of dress, or in a specific talent. Beauty is found in everyone and is amplified through being truly ourselves and being confident in our direction in life. Be YOU! Be beautiful! And when someone notices say, " Thank you!".