Hi there,

Not everyone enjoys being praised, and for some people it can even feel uncomfortable or upsetting. Praise is often meant to encourage or show appreciation, but that doesn’t always mean it feels good to receive.

When you’re not feeling confident, it can sometimes feel hard to accept praise. You might struggle to believe the good things others see in you because you can’t see them yourself. Finding new ways to build your confidence can help you feel more comfortable about the good things people say.

When you receive praise, there are things you can do to help and make it easier. In the moment, try just saying thank you and moving on to make it easier to cope. Later, it can then help to think about whether any part of that praise was true. Ask yourself, if someone else was praised for the same thing, would they deserve it? Over time, it can make it easier to accept the good things people recognise, build your own self-esteem, and make you feel less uncomfortable.

It can feel frustrating when people use the same words over and over, even if their intention is to help. Sometimes when someone doesn’t think you’re able to accept your praise, they’ll want to repeat it. This might be to show that they’re serious or help you to remember it. Remember, the way someone chooses to praise you doesn’t change that they’ve seen something good.

It can help to tell someone you trust how praise makes you feel. Having someone else know how you feel can help show you you’re not alone or help you see the praise differently.

If these feelings are upsetting you a lot, it could help to explore your self-esteem. Childline has tips on building confidence and self-esteem. You can also get support from a Childline counsellor any time.

Take care,

Sam