Even Happier

WHY
Are hugs and compliments primary needs for human survival? A famous study by Rene Spitz offer research evidence on the matter. Rene noticed unusually high mortality rates among infants in some foster homes. Those children were well fed and kept warm with advanced medical equipments: what was lacking? The study proved that the absence of physical caretaking had caused their death. Other research has shown that different stimuli are needed at different ages. In adults, compliments and other social interactions largely replace the role that physical nurturing has for infants.

TRY
What happen when someone pays you a compliment? Do you feel that the person must be lying because you are not that good? Do you ever minimize the compliment by thinking logical explanations of why you don’t have any merit in that matter? It is only fair to value differently compliments arriving from different people, but sometimes we act like starving children trying to eat with their mouths shut: the food is very near but it does not get into the system. Recognition is vital, so how can we truly accept a compliment? There is no straight answer to this question. We might try to listen to the compliment in full, without rushing for reciprocating or minimizing, letting it sink in for a moment and then sincerely thanking the other person.