Everybody craves validation. Everyone wants to feel appreciated for their actions. Especially in times like this, when the hustle and bustle of the daily grind can wear us down, a simple compliment from a stranger can make our day. Be it an employee in an office working for professional acknowledgement or someone’s spouse wanting to feel loved, it is human tendency to yearn for approval and recognition at some point.
In fact, complimenting others and recognising them for their efforts makes us feel good too. It is evident from the fact that we feel giddy, nervous and excited about the surprises and plans we organize for others. The idea of making others feel good about themselves is alluring to us and makes us want to do acts of kindness to a large extent. Be it the smile on our faces when ordering flower delivery in Agra to make our loved ones jump in glee or listening to our friend going through tough times, all of these gestures make others feel better and ultimately us.
The following points will give you a basic idea of what can make your colleagues, loved ones, acquaintances and even strangers feel happy and valued. Keep reading if you want to be a positive presence in someone’s life.
Being present for others
The most basic thing you can do to make people in your life feel important is to listen to them. Lend them your shoulder when they are feeling down, and be all ears to the challenges that sadden them. When you start doing this regularly and become a good listener, your acquaintances and cherished ones will feel that they matter in your life. Listening presents a picture to the other person that their words hold value and their well-being matters. You want to achieve this by giving your undivided attention to them. Here you have to be mindful of the kind of people you want to invest your energy into, as not everyone will reach out to you with good intentions.
Small acts of kindness & love
Doing little things here and there to make someone’s day better might only come naturally to some. Sometimes, people even struggle with saying ‘thanks’ and ‘sorry’. If you fall into this category, start slow and first build the habit of verbalising your feelings. For others, who are more in tune with their emotions, surprises are a good way to show appreciation to someone. Remember, every action counts, whether it be frequent flowers delivery in Jammu to amaze your parents or helping out a flustered stranger.
Recognise People’s qualities
Be it in a professional setting or a personal space, if someone stands out to you for being good at something, then say it out loud. Make that thought known to the other party, as it will only make them feel better about themselves. If you like how your friend is always on time for your get-togethers, compliment them on that. If your coworker is really helpful in general, point it out to them. You will only receive a positive response from people whenever you do this. You would be pleasantly surprised to see the glint in their eyes when you shower someone with confidence-boosting compliments.
Being receptive to other perspectives
We often only feel comfortable with our way of thinking and refuse to be open to other ideologies in life. Being dismissive of other people’s realities and opinions can make them feel alone and rejected. This can be particularly detrimental to your personal relationships, as your loved ones would feel insignificant and may harbour bitterness towards your habit of being absolutely rigid. Try and open up to what other people have to say and offer. You don’t have to agree with them necessarily, but not being outright disrespectful is the way to go. This will make the people around you feel respected and appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Applaud people
Praise people for being a good person or influence. For example, if your colleague inspires you to improve by being a valuable employee, commend them on their professionalism. Publicising your thoughts about someone’s good conduct and behavioural traits is not as scary as it sounds. All it takes is being vocal whenever an impression of ‘he/she is such a good person’ strikes your mind.