Okay, so I’ve been hearing a lot about “words of affirmation” lately, and how important they are in relationships. I gotta admit, I wasn’t totally sold on the idea at first. It felt a little… cheesy? But my buddy told me it made a huge difference with his girlfriend, so I figured, why not give it a shot with the guys? I mean, we all like to feel appreciated, right?
My Experiment Begins
I started small. My friend Mark had been working really hard on this project at work, staying late, putting in extra hours. So, the next time I saw him, I just said, “Hey man, I’ve noticed how dedicated you’ve been to that project. It’s really impressive.” He kind of shrugged it off at first, like guys do, but I could see a little smile playing on his lips. It was subtle, but it was there.
Then, there was my gym buddy, Tom. He’s been trying to hit a new personal best on his bench press for weeks. He finally nailed it the other day, and I made sure to tell him, “Dude, that was awesome! You crushed it! All that hard work is paying off.” He was pumped, gave me a high-five, and his energy was through the roof for the rest of the workout.
The Results
Here is a simple list that I practiced every day.
- “I’m proud of you.”
- “I believe in you.”
- “I appreciate you.”
- “You did a good job on this today.”
- “Thank you for your efforts.”
Honestly, it felt a little weird at first, giving out these compliments. Like I was breaking some unwritten guy code or something. But the reactions I got were pretty positive. It wasn’t like they were gushing with emotion or anything, but I could tell it landed. It made them feel good, and it made me feel good too. It’s like, we all crave that validation, that recognition, even if we don’t always admit it.
It wasn’t just about big accomplishments either. Sometimes it was just acknowledging the small things. Like, if my roommate cooked a killer dinner, I’d tell him, “Dude, this is amazing! You’re a seriously good cook.” Or if a friend helped me out with something, I’d say, “Thanks, man, I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.”
Keeping It Real
The key, I realized, was to be genuine. Don’t just throw out empty compliments. It has to be something you actually mean. And it has to be specific. Instead of just saying “You’re great,” say “You’re great at explaining things,” or “You’re great at staying calm under pressure.” That makes it feel more personal and less like you’re just reading from a script.
I’m still no expert on this whole “words of affirmation” thing, but I’m definitely seeing the value in it. It’s not about being overly sentimental or anything. It’s just about acknowledging the good stuff in the people around you, and letting them know you see it. It strengthens the bonds, creates a more positive vibe, and honestly, it just feels good to make someone else feel good. So, yeah, I’m gonna keep doing it. Give it a try, you might be surprised at the results.
