World Compliment Day: Share A Smile On March 1st

Every year on March 1st, people around the world come together to celebrate World Compliment Day, a special day that can promote kind words and genuine compliments to others. This global initiative can be seen as an effort to create the most positive day of the year. National Compliment Day may serve as a gentle reminder of the impacts that simple kindnesses can have on our fellow neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family, and it can give us the chance to bring the practice of kindness into our lives. If you’re having trouble offering kindness to others or to yourself, working with a therapist in your local area or through an online therapy platform may be helpful.

World Compliment Day: Celebrating positivity on March 1st

Recognition professional Hans Poortvliet created this day in the early 2000s to spread joy, appreciation, and recognition. According to Hans, these positive affirmations tend to be natural human needs, and it can be important to acknowledge and celebrate them.

The motivation behind World Compliment Day is generally to encourage individuals to recognize and acknowledge the good qualities and actions of others. It can be a day to promote positivity and boost people’s self-esteem.

Why was World Compliment Day created?

Hans Poortvliet believed that sincere compliments can have the power to create a better world by fostering improved relationships and enhancing mental well-being. This day can serve as a reminder that a simple compliment can make a significant difference in someone’s day and contribute to a more compassionate and connected society. World Compliment Day may continue to give people the chance to create a positive day through simple acts, and it may show us humanity’s capacity to work together and share positivity.

The psychology behind compliments

Compliments often have a powerful impact. When someone gives you a compliment or when you share a kind word with someone else, oxytocin (sometimes referred to as the "love hormone"), is usually activated. Research suggests that pleasure and happiness are typically induced by the release of oxytocin. Therefore, when a person pays attention to you in a positive way or you offer a compliment to a stranger, you may be actively contributing to a happier society.

How compliments can boost confidence

Compliments can have the potential to build confidence and happiness, helping us feel sincerely appreciated and valued as people. If your boss praises you at work, you may notice a little extra bounce in your stride for the remainder of the day. This boost in confidence and increase in pleasure throughout the day can have beneficial effects on our professional and personal lives, enabling us to approach our colleagues and loved ones with confidence. 

Lifting spirits through positivity

You may have also experienced watching someone’s face light up after paying them a genuine and sincere compliment. Every compliment you give or receive can be like a small gift to lift spirits and build confidence, which can be a wonderful way to support one another’s mental well-being.

How to celebrate World Compliment Day On March 1st

Smile

Sharing a smile with a friend, colleague, relative, or passerby can be a great way to spread joy and positivity in the world. Smiling can make you happier, so by smiling on World Compliment Day, you may be taking the first step in spreading warmth and positivity. By taking care of your own happiness, you may be in a much better position to give back to others in the community with kind words, acts of service, or heartfelt messages.  

Write heartfelt letters

Take the time to write a letter or heartfelt note to friends, family members, or coworkers, expressing your appreciation and admiration for them. 

Call or video chat with friends

Connect with friends and loved ones via phone or video chat. Being able to hear verbal compliments face-to-face can help people recognize the genuineness of the message and prevent words from getting lost in translation.         

Compliment a stranger

Extend your kindness to strangers by offering compliments to people you encounter during the day. It could be a passerby, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, or someone waiting in line with you.

Leave positive notes

Spread positivity by leaving nameless notes in public places like libraries, parks, or cafes. This may be an especially good option if you want to make someone feel appreciated, but you’re a little too busy to stop and chat or are simply feeling a little shy. Your kind words may brighten someone’s day.

Social media shoutouts

Use your social media platforms to share compliments and appreciation for your friends, family, and followers. For example, you could tag a friend in a photo and publicly appreciate a lovely time spent together. You might even use your social media pages as memory collages, over which you can bond together in the future.

Organize a compliment game

Change the rules of a game you love to celebrate Compliment Day, such as “tag,” so that you must give the tagger a compliment if you’re caught before proceeding with the game. Try to have some fun with this idea; you may be surprised at the love and positivity it fosters within your community.

Compliment yourself

Don’t forget to practice self-love. Take a moment to reflect on your achievements and admirable qualities. You may want to buy a journal and write down something daily for which you are grateful or appreciate about yourself. This can be great for self-esteem and may be a way to show care and appreciation for yourself. 

Create compliment cards

Design compliment cards to distribute to people you encounter during the day. You can even make this a joint activity, decorating them with friends and enjoying a positive day together. 

Make a donation

Donate to a charity or organization within your own country or globally to honor World Compliment Day. 

In general, a personal compliment costs nothing, and by doing your bit for yourself and those around you on World Compliment Day, you may foster connections, spread happiness, and make the world a kinder place, one sincere compliment at a time.

The impact of kind words on mental health and well-being

Kind words and compliments can be great ways to connect with the people around us, regardless of the present situation. Whether someone close to us is going through a hard time and needs to be uplifted, or you want someone to know how much you’ve appreciated their company, kind words can make a difference. 

Longevity

National Compliment Day can be a day for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Research suggests that happier people typically live longer, so your words of affirmation, small acts of kindness, and genuine smiles may be helping people live longer and happier lives. 

Feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin, which are frequently associated with happiness, reduced stress, and an improved sense of well-being, may be released when we give and receive compliments. By embracing compliments in our daily lives, we can support the community around us. A simple act can go a long way, so feel free to celebrate the legacy of Hans Poortvliet on this World Compliment Day. 

Job satisfaction

In the workplace, job satisfaction and organizational commitment may be directly linked to healthy workplace relations. A compliment from a supervisor, colleague, or visitor can have a positive effect on workplace relationships within an office, further improving job satisfaction, the work environment, culture, and productivity. 

Relationships with family members

Within the family, compliments can strengthen bonds and foster a sense of security. Through compliments, parents can contribute to their children’s emotional, mental, and physical development, potentially improving self-esteem and building confidence. A compliment in a certain area can be beneficial to help children stay motivated, whether they’re playing a sport, learning a musical instrument, or helping around the house. 

Friendships and romantic relationships

In friendships and romantic relationships, compliments may nurture intimacy and connection. They can serve as a reminder of why we cherish the people in our lives and reinforce our love and appreciation for them. 

How therapy can help you spread positivity

Therapy is a safe space for you to discuss challenges that may be impacting your outlook on life. A mental health professional can help you develop a positive mindset and feel more comfortable expressing yourself with others. If you’re looking to foster mental wellness and spread positivity, consider working with a therapist online. 

Practice kindness beyond March 1st with online therapy

Much like a sincere compliment, online therapy can support you mentally, physically, and emotionally. One standout advantage of online therapy may be its accessibility. Whether you reside in a bustling city or a remote village, have a tightly packed schedule, or can’t leave your home right now, online therapy can ensure that professional support is available online.

Effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapy has consistently proven to be effective in improving mental health and well-being. A growing body of evidence suggests that client outcomes from online and in-person therapy tend to be the same, showing that either treatment option may be a valid one for those who wish to seek professional help with their mental health.

Takeaway

Whether you’re looking to spread love and kindness in your community, increase workforce productivity, foster healthier friend and family relationships, or make a stranger smile, giving out heartfelt compliments on World Compliment Day can be a great way to give back. Online or in-person therapy can be a beneficial resource for those who struggle to be kind to themselves and others.