Some things that I have never forgotten are times where random people on the street have gone out of their way to stop and pay me a compliment. In most cases, these compliments have made my day. There's something about receiving compliments to and from complete strangers that I find incredibly heart-warming, but there is also something deeply satisfying about also giving compliments to people that you don't know.
Here are five key reasons why I believe that you should compliment strangers:
1. You might make someone's day
You have absolutely no idea what someone is thinking about, how their day has been going, or what they are feeling inside. The stranger that you just walked past may be having the worst day of their life. You may never know what effects your words had on them, but your compliment could be the highlight of someone’s day. Why wouldn’t you want to make this happen?
2. It's nice to be nice
People say this because it’s true – being kind to someone or throwing a compliment their way will feel rewarding and will probably make you feel happier as well! Knowing that you could have transformed someone’s day, or even just boosted their confidence, is likely to give you a great sense of joy.
3. Compliments are great conversation starters
If you want to talk to someone you don’t know, why not compliment them? Giving people compliments is a very easy way of striking up a conversation. What’s even better is that you are likely to connect over what you complimented them on.
4. There's a knock-on effect
If you compliment someone and make them feel good about themselves, it is very likely that they are going to want to do the same. You compliment could inspire strangers to then go on to say something nice to other strangers, and the cycle continues. To put it simply, you’re just making the world a happier and more positive place.
5. You'll feel more positive
When searching for a compliment to give, you’re going to be noticing the positive things about people. Eventually, you’ll start picking up more positive things around you and in your own life. You’ll slowly begin to feel and emanate more and more positive vibes.
THTo conclude, there are really no downsides to complimenting strangers. Sure, being on the receiving end of a compliment feels great, but being the one to give the compliment feels just as amazing.