Here is a Quick Re-frame to Help You Receive, Absorb and Accept a Compliment...
This post was originally to be read as comment, but I then realized it might help a few people re-frame how they perceive compliments from others. For many women, taking a compliment is tough, even though we crave them so. There are lots of factors of course (we may take compliments better coming from some people and not others, or receive compliments with more enthusiasm when they are in line with our own self-image). This re-frame is more about how to receive compliments that may make us uncomfortable, without downplaying or negating them (the less we do both of those things, the easier it becomes to accept the compliments as truth too).
I still sometimes have a hard time with compliments, but I see them differently now. Something that helped ME re-frame was my grandmother "Gram" who took great issue with my less than enthusiastic response to them. She said when someone compliments you, they are sharing an opinion about something they liked, were inspired by, or noticed in you. The compliment is really about THEM and our ability to accept it is about our self-esteem & self-image. When we deny a person their compliment, or downplay it, in a small way we communicate to them that their opinion doesn’t matter. When we brush it off, we’re inadvertently invalidating their TRUTH.
Most women tend to negate compliments that we don't personally believe to be true OR downplay compliments because we're scared of coming across as vain or narcissistic (forever modest, even to our detriment). At the end of the day, the compliments actually have nothing to do with the person being complimented (though you can choose to use them as feedback if you wish). But they are most often extended with kindness. And should be greeted with such.
So instead of downplaying it or outright negating the compliment, be thankful, respectful and honor the opinion being shared, even if you disagree. And when you're ready, maybe open up to the possibility that what they see in you is real, truthful and at the very least comes from an honest place.
Who's to say they're wrong? They may just be seeing something that you don't see. Yet.
Have a Happy and Healthy Day, Cheers :)