Health and Wellness

Happify is an interactive app, available at App Store and Google Play, that uses science-backed research to offer games, meditations, and personal-growth activities to train your brain to overcome negative thoughts and behaviors. The following excerpt is from Happify Daily, which shares inspirational stories, articles, and infographics for emotional well-being.

Today’s To-Do: Flex Your Kindness Muscle 💪

Pay a Sincere Compliment to Someone Who Irritates You

Let’s face it: It can be downright difficult to find something nice to say to someone you might find a bit irritating. But the payoff for complimenting them is worth it—for them and for you. Offering some words of kindness or commending them for a recent accomplishment could be the first step to forging a better connection.

The next time you run into the acquaintance, neighbor, or co-worker who gives you the opposite of those warm and fuzzy feelings…

·        take a moment to look for their good qualities, 👀

·        find something nice to say, and 🔎

·        pay them a sincere compliment. 👍

No, really—speak from the heart and share something genuine (for example, "Your incisive comments always get to the heart of what everyone is thinking" instead of “I like your shoes”). It just might make their day—and yours.

The Science: Compliments can feel a little awkward, whether you’re giving or receiving, but sharing our appreciation or admiration can come with some powerful (and long-lasting) benefits for both parties. One study found that people have a tendency to underestimate the positive impact paying a compliment can have on others, and other studies found that doing so can increase reciprocity between individuals and boost mood and motivation.

Quick Tip: Research tells us that paying someone a compliment about their character or who they are as a person is more meaningful than commenting on their appearance. So, swap that statement about their new haircut with praise about their outsize (and now less irksome) personality.

For fun science-based activities and games, to go https://www.happify.com