Bro , Just Say THANK YOU...

“Nice shirt!”

“Hey, that was a great presentation.”

“You’re actually a really good listener.”

Now, watch the average man’s face when he hears these things. He freezes. Then either he cracks a joke, changes the topic, or says something like, “Nah yaar, just luck.”

We’re not allergic to praise. We just don’t know what to do with it.

Somewhere between childhood trophies and adult responsibilities, no one taught men how to simply say, “Thank you.” Compliments feel like unexpected pop quizzes; we weren’t prepared, and we’re certain we’ll fail.

Maybe it’s because, as boys, we were only praised for doing, not for being. Win a match? “Good boy.” Top the class? “I’m proud of you.” But say, You’re kind,” or “You have a nice smile,” and it’s like, wait, is this a setup? What’s happening?

So when someone says something nice, our brain throws up a red flag: Error 404, Response Not Found.

We’ve mastered deflection. If someone says, “You did great,” we respond, “You should’ve seen the mess before!”If someone says, “You’re looking smart,” we say, “It’s just the lighting.”We turn every kind word into a badminton rally; no praise is allowed to touch the ground.

But here’s the funny part, we secretly love hearing it. We replay it later, alone, while brushing our teeth or stuck in traffic. “She said I looked smart… hmm. Lighting was good, though.”

The truth is, most men are not very good at picking up feelings. We can give advice, help, or solutions easily, but really listen and understand emotions? That’s where we struggle.

And maybe we hide behind humour because compliments feel too intimate. When someone sees your good side, you suddenly feel visible, and visibility has never been our comfort zone. It’s safer to be useful than noticeable.

But think about it , when you reject a compliment, you’re basically telling the other person, “Hey, your taste is wrong.” And no one wants to be that guy.

So maybe next time, instead of dodging it, try this radical act: just smile and say “Thanks.” Don’t return the compliment immediately. Don’t add a self-burn. Just… absorb it.

It’ll feel awkward for five seconds. Maybe seven. You might even want to explain why you don’t deserve it , don’t. Just stand there and let it land.

Because here’s the thing, people don’t compliment you to feed your ego. They do it to connect. To say, “I see you.” And isn’t that what most of us crave quietly, to be seen, without having to perform?

So yeah, if someone says, “You’re doing great,” maybe stop turning it into a comedy sketch. Just take the win.

And for the record, if no one told you lately, you’re doing fine. You’re not perfect. You never will be. But you’re trying, and that’s enough.

Don’t shrug that off. Please take it. It’s yours.

💭 Your turn:

Think of a man, your father, friend, teacher, colleague, someone you’ve quietly learned something from.

Now tell him. Not with a quote or emoji with a simple, human compliment.

You never know which words might finally reach a heart that’s been brushing them off for years.

--- BiH@g ( All © Reserved )