Compliments are the greatest compliment you can give

Sounds like a strange lead in doesn't it... but let me explain what I mean.

How do you think people feel after they have interacted with you? Are they happy? Bouyed up? Annoyed? Angry?

Given that our lives are ones of constant interaction, we may be guilty of not approaching every one in a positive frame of mind, especially if it didn't go as well as you hoped it might last time. But I personally feel there is always something good to gain from every interaction - if we choose to look at things in a different way.

First thing every morning I like to spend a few minutes and read one or two of the many "motivational" e-zines I get. Then I file the rest for another time and start working. Those first few moments give me a way to start my day in a positive frame of mind. Today I opened a message from Tony Robbins. Tony's message was a video blog - on 5 keys to thrive - and I'm sure he won't mind me passing on the link so you can watch it - if you haven't already done so - http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/378/5-keys-to-thrive/ As always, Tony manages to put across in a few minutes some great advice - so I sent him a thank you message via the social networking site "Twitter" - yes the Tony Robbins is on Twitter. For the skeptics reading this, they may say - but it was probably his assistant or some other person who responded - but I like to think it was the man himself - when he responded by saying "I'm glad it touched you, all the best, Tony".... in effect, he was thanking me for thanking him. Those few words made me smile - all day.

Which of course got me thinking about compliments, and what we can say to people on a daily basis to make them smile - all day.

You see compliments are a two way kind of interaction - and the best kind of interaction we can have. We may think we are paying just one person a compliment, when in reality you are touching many more people with your words. You are paying one person a compliment yes, but the act of doing that - will make YOU feel better too. Imagine then the ripple effect of a single compliment. If the person you complimented then complimented another person and on it would go.

Our words have that kind of power. They can build people up, or they can tear people down. I personally feel the world would be a much happier place if we chose words that made people smile on a regular basis. So today I would like you to do you and those around you a favour. Try to find something positive to say about everyone you interact with, and see what a difference it can and does make to your day.