We have so much in common, as women in recovery. I'm going to hazard a guess that you have, or in the not-too-distant past had, a hard time accepting compliments.
Am I right? I'm so much better at it these days, but it's still a thing sometimes.
I laughed the other day when I heard a woman in recovery say that when someone gives her a compliment, she tends to swat it away like a housefly trying to land on her. I have seen women actually wince when they are complimented.
Many of us negate the compliment with "Oh, it's nothing" or downplay it with "I really hoped I would do better." How do we stop doing this? When one of my therapists noticed how hard it was for me to accept compliments, she gave me a three-point plan.
First, I count to three after I receive a compliment. Then I say "thank you" out loud.