Tip #5: Throw Compliments in the Garbage

The ego fears not that it’s better or worse than anyone else, but the same. — I heard this somewhere.

I want all of the superlatives: all the bests, -ests, and -osts. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten some of them. It’s almost killed me. It’s like peanut butter ice cream sundaes. As soon as I have a bite, I care about nothing else and only want more.

Then, I start thinking that I funny or weird or special only because other people say I am. So if I don’t get the praise I seek, it’s like I’ve lost my identity. Yikes.

So I’ve decided that other people can’t tell me who I am. And if they do, it’s my job to throw that in the garbage and keep on working.

Now, when people tell me that I am weird, special, smart, or talented, I plug my ears and go, “LALALALALALALALALALALA” because if I start listening, it’ll go to my head and then I’ll start doing things not because I want to, but to get people to say more nice stuff about me.

Another option is recycling the compliments and giving them right out again. Anyone want this potholder I made out of people saying they like my shirt? It’s yours.