Why I Usually Ignore Compliments (& Why You Should, Too)

Why I Usually Ignore Compliments You Should Too

Finding a voice – that clear, distinct, and consistent sound – is, for me, the most difficult thing about being active online. I think others can relate to this, too. I have no trouble staying consistent with Text Request. But for some reason that clarity doesn’t transfer well to my personal projects. There’s so many aspects of me, how do I blend that all into one clear, distinct, and consistent voice?

That’s why I usually ignore compliments – or negative comments, for that matter. I’ve got enough going on in my own head without taking into account what someone else has to say. It’s not that what others have to say isn’t valuable, and I might no be in the right to handle things this way, but I can’t take the outside voices of what’s good or bad when I’m frantically searching for my own!

I think every online personality, in some capacity at some point, struggles with this. And I think in those situations a similar response (or lack thereof) can be beneficial. We’re trying to grow. We’re spending a lot of time and resources learning and improving. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to pay attention to anyone else if you’re fighting just to tread water.

It seems that we – bloggers, personalities, average Joe’s – often get caught up in what good or bad things others say about us, when the best thing for us to do is simply keep our heads down and keep working. We have more important things to pay attention to.

I try to engage with or respond to any person that says something which could possibly warrant a reply (though I’m certainly not perfect at this). But I’ll soon forget anything about it. I do value each viewer and follower I get. That’s my support!

But if I focus on what people say, I’ll get arrogant, or discouraged, or too caught up in pleasing others to actually focus on improving my work. I can’t focus on what people say to me, because I need to focus on being better at what I do, on improving my craft, on providing something valuable for my targets and figuring out my voice.

I usually ignore compliments because paying attention to what others say detracts from what I need to be paying attention to. And I think that in some regard that same principle can apply to everyone trying to grow.

Thoughts?

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