Today’s guest post is from Ryan at No More Bacon.  This post is great and deals with something I struggle with – taking compliments.

I’m going to take a quick minute and let all of you unbutton your pants and relax while I tell you a little bit about myself. I’m kind of new to the whole blogging scene but Mary has graciously given me the opportunity to write a guest post while she on her way to what can only be described as a whirlwind romance vacation of a lifetime. It seriously sounds like something from a book (or a chick flick, gross). Way to go Mary!

To get to the meat of the blog post (pun intended, bacon…Ha Ha) I need to give all of you a little back story. I’ve been a fat dude for a long time, as long as I can remember anyway. Six months ago I decided that enough was enough! I was sick and tired of getting winded moving from one coach to the other. I hated the feeling of depression that came over me when I realized I had left the remote control next to pizza boxes right when I sat down to watch another Friends rerun. That Joey is such a character! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. I hated being fat and I wanted to be around for my family for a very long time so I decided I was going to change my life.

I didn’t only want to lose weight; I also wanted to change my lifestyle completely. I wanted to learn to love eating healthy and exercising. Wow, I was ambitious. During the last six months I’ve lost 100 pounds (give or take), I’ve totally changed my eating habits and I’m exercising six days a week. I feel great! I don’t remember the last time I felt this good. I think I look pretty good too.

This drastic change in physical appearance has turned a few heads. People who I haven’t seen in a year usually double take, or don’t recognize me at all. Even people I work with are extremely supportive and are often giving me compliments and telling me how great I look. THIS HAS BEEN FREAKING ME OUT! I never know what to say or how to say it. I feel like acknowledging that I’ve done something great will make me appear cocky or arrogant. I also don’t want people to feel like their compliments are unappreciated because they definitely are appreciated. I’ve just never been in this kind of position. So the question is…what’s the right way to take a compliment?

I’ve put together some examples here and I’ll be following the Animaniacs “Good Idea, Bad Idea” format.

Good Idea – Show sincere gratitude.

Barbara: Hey Dave, your new toupee is hardly noticeable, I really like it.
Dave: Thanks for noticing Barbara, I appreciate it!

Bad Idea – Act like an arrogant prick and try to pretend like you’re loaded. Everyone hates that!

Barbara: Hey Dave, your new toupee is hardly noticeable, I really like it.
Dave: You should like it I paid a fortune to make it look this good.

Good Idea – Say thank you and try to include your friend in your success

Hank: Wow Mike, your chest has got some real definition lately…looking good!
Mike: Thanks Hank, I’ve been going to a new gym and I think it’s helping. You can come sometime if you’d like.

Bad Idea – Completely disqualify a sincere compliment

Hank: Wow Mike, your chest has got some real definition lately…looking good!
Mike: Oh, it doesn’t look THAT good! I’ve still got a lot of work to do.

Now it is true that Mike may be avoiding an advance from Hank, but nevertheless his approach disqualifies the comment that Hank is giving him. People need their compliments validated. Sometimes it’s harder to give them than it is to receive them.

Good Idea – Smile when you say thank you

Cheryl: Jared, that picture of Carrot Top that you drew is amazing! You should seriously consider selling it!
Jared: *smiling* Thanks, I’ve always liked Carrot Top so it was easy to focus my time on it.

Bad Idea – Change the subject

Cheryl: Jared, that picture of Carrot Top that you drew is amazing! You should seriously consider selling it!
Jared: Do you like bacon?

Smiling really helps when receiving a compliment; it’s another good way to validate what people are saying. Changing the subject on the other hand is a bad idea. Also, Jared liking Carrot Top is just a judgment flaw and in no way influences the rudeness or politeness of his compliment taking abilities.

These are all mistakes that I’ve made in the past but every day I get a little bit better at it.

What are your tactics for taking compliments? Nothing seems to go farther than a simple “Thank You.”