When compliments go wrong, part 2

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Thinking about praise this week, I remembered how compliments can go wrong with insincere attempts.

I hit upon another pet peeve: too many compliments.

It may seem impossible in our cold, cruel world to have too many compliments. Certainly, we hear many complaints about people and companies and meals and TV shows and songs and on and on.

But I find myself often wearying at an endless stream of praise. They might be compliments to ensure everyone in a group or a team is included. They might be the unsophisticated musings of the masses.

I find myself pickier about who I ask for recommendations. I cast a jaundiced eye at heaps of praise on anything and everything.

And I struggle. I try to make sure my compliments come forth regularly, but that they come from a place of true admiration, rather than a superficial reflex. I want my words to count.

Perhaps, my cynicism gets in the way. Or I need to be less stingy with kind words. But I still wonder what would happen if others were more selective about their compliments. Would they have more impact, more credibility?

Or would the world be a sadder place?

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