Situation · Yourself
“I can't take a compliment”
What could be going on
Can't take a compliment: Deflecting praise fits; check whether you believe the compliment at all.
Discounting the positive: Insisting good feedback doesn't count fits; check what feedback would count.
Self-verification: Praise clashes with a low self-view; check whether criticism feels truer.
Defectiveness/shame schema: Fits if praise feels like a mistake someone will soon correct.
Impostor phenomenon: Compliments can feel like proof you've fooled them.
Honesty-humility: Could be genuine modesty; check whether you accept it privately.
Questions to carry
- With the last compliment, what did I say back in the first second?
- If I let a compliment in, what would I have to believe about myself?
Also said as
- I squirm when someone praises me
- my wife always brushes off compliments
- praise makes me uncomfortable
- I always argue when someone says something nice
- why do I deflect compliments
- I don't believe it when people praise me