Never Underestimate the Power of a Compliment

“Look at you today in that cute outfit – just so put together. You look great.”

“You have a way of really brightening my day with your smile.”

“I really admire your dedication to attending daily Mass. Your faith is contagious.”

There’s nothing better than a compliment. Short or drawn out, specific or broad, romantic or platonic, a good compliment can be the catalyst for deeper relationships, stronger connections or at the very least, warm fuzzies.

In the dating world, compliments are a no pressure way to express your interest in someone else, whether it’s a compliment on an aspect of their online profile or an in-person compliment about a positive personality trait. Everyone enjoys a positive comment, right?

So what kinds of compliments do CatholicMatch members want to hear?

“The best compliments are the ones about qualities I really value or am trying to improve. For example, while I certainly appreciate compliments on how I look, I would much rather receive a compliment about a virtue. It not only gives me some positive reinforcement on becoming the person I want to be, but it tells me the person I'm receiving the compliment from is looking a little bit deeper."
Laura-896845

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me"
Jerry-730726

“The best compliment I ever got was from my late husband a few days before he passed. He called me into the kitchen and asked me to sit at the table with him. He took my hands in his, looked me in the eyes, and proceeded to tell me that I was the strongest woman he had ever known and thanked me for being his wife.”
Linda-624584

Read this post in the “Single Living” forum for more responses.

Many people are unsure how to compliment without sounding fake, insincere or over-the-top. Here are a few tips from a secular online dating website for making a meaningful and memorable compliment:

• Focus on specifics: For maximum impact, make it precise and particular. Tell the person exactly what you admire, with plenty of details.
• Say it like you mean it: It’s much more meaningful to look someone in the eye, maybe grab the person’s hand, and say, “I’ve noticed something very impressive about you…”
• Go public: Over dinner with friends, you can say, “I thought it was awesome that Pat spent the past three weekends volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.” Or at a family gathering: “I’m sure you know about Kelly’s job promotion. Well deserved!”
• Put it in writing: Take a few minutes to write a note — with pen and paper — saying what you value about the other person.

Every person is different, so whether it’s a new love interest or a co-worker, think about what type of compliment suits him or her the best and go for it. Even the simplest of compliments can turn anyone’s day around, and chances are, your positive compliment will put a bounce in your step, too.