Build Others Up

Sometimes it seems we live in a world where high school never ends. Sh*it talking and gossip is the office-water-cooler talk. It is easy to tear others down, to judge, to scoff, to point out everything that is “wrong” with them. And boy can it be fun to hate on thy neighbor.

But being mean and judgmental doesn’t feel good.

“It doesn’t take a talent to be mean,
Your words can crush things that are unseen.”

– Jewel, “I’m Sensitive“

It feels good to build others up. It feels good to be nice and kind.

“We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.”

– Lucretius, Roman Poet & Philosopher 99-55 BC

So let us hold one another up, build one another up, pull one another up. Pointing out positive attributes in others is intuitive. Living from a place of kindness is natural.

I invite you to try an exercise! I’m coining it the…

COMPLIMENT COMMITMENT

I commit to giving sincere and heartfelt compliments to the people I come into contact with.

What to compliment, you ask?

Compliment a stranger’s cool t-shirt, a neighbors perfectly manicured lawn, a colleagues cubical décor.

Other awesome-sauce things to compliment:

Effort (trying, putting forth effort, that is what matters!)
Tenacity
Commitment to a cause
Grit
Cool tattoos
Adorable dog
Courage (especially for those who face their fears head-on!)

Speak from the heart. Genuine compliments will be received as such.

Generally avoid complimenting solely based on appearance: beauty is so much more than our physical appearances, we are so much more than our appearance. Always avoid being creepy (sage advice, I know!).

Make it a point to build others up, not tear them down. Let’s commit to helping each other RISE up, and stop slapping each other down. Make the Compliment Commitment. You and the world will be more beautiful for it.