
Compliments are the unsung heroes of confidence-building. True confidence starts from within, but like any living, growing thing, it flourishes when given the proper water, nutrients and sunlight -- and in the case of confidence, nothing nourishes quite like compliments that acknowledge the light we’re shining.
Research shows that compliments do more than just flatter our egos; they can be incredibly powerful not only in confidence-building, but also in motivation and achievement -- a 2012 PLOS One study even indicated that compliments can be just effective as cash rewards in improving performance in the workplace. But the effects of compliments can extend far beyond day-to-day achievements -- sometimes, all it takes is one powerful word of praise to set a lifelong transformation in motion.
We teamed up with dressbarn and asked real women to share the compliments that have made a lasting impact on them over the years -- the ones that inspired them, boosted their confidence or affirmed what they knew to be true: that they’re already pretty amazing, just for being themselves.
You’re already confident -- so give that confidence a boost with a compliment for yourself, for a friend or for a stranger, and pass on the inspiration. dressbarn, a fashion retailer whose mission has always been to make women look and FEEL beautiful, has tons of styles designed to let women show off their confidence and celebrate their shine. Share your confidence-boosting compliments for fellow women using #OWNINGIT!