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Learning to receive a compliment without cringing
For so many women in midlife, receiving a compliment isn’t as simple as saying “thank you.”
It can trigger discomfort, disbelief, or that familiar urge to deflect, laugh it off, or explain it away.
In this episode, I’m unpacking why compliments feel so hard to receive—especially for Gen X women—and what’s really happening beneath the surface when praise makes us cringe.
We talk about the conditioning many of us grew up with: don’t take up space, don’t get too confident, don’t make it about you. And how those old belief systems can create a very real nervous system response when someone sees us, acknowledges us, or reflects something positive back to us.
I share personal stories and client experiences that highlight how deflecting compliments isn’t a character flaw—it’s often a form of self-protection. But it’s also something we can gently unlearn.
This conversation is about building self-trust, allowing connection, and learning to receive without pressure, perfection, or performance. Because receiving a compliment isn’t about ego—it’s about letting yourself be seen.
If you’ve ever struggled to accept kind words, this episode is an invitation to soften, get curious, and practice receiving with a little more ease.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode- Why so many women in their 40s and 50s struggle with receiving compliments
- How praise can trigger disbelief, self-doubt, or discomfort
- The role societal conditioning plays in teaching women to minimize themselves
- How old belief systems can create a nervous system response to compliments
- Why deflecting praise is often self-protection—not humility
- How receiving compliments supports confidence and genuine connection
- Why self-trust is essential for accepting kind words gracefully
- How complimenting others can expand your capacity to receive
- Simple ways to practice self-acceptance and self-compliments
- Why confidence in midlife comes from embracing who you are right now
Want to get a jumpstart on new habits? Grab a copy of my
Weight Loss Checklist and start each day with your goal in mind
View all episodes
By Stephanie ThibodeauFor so many women in midlife, receiving a compliment isn’t as simple as saying “thank you.”
It can trigger discomfort, disbelief, or that familiar urge to deflect, laugh it off, or explain it away.
In this episode, I’m unpacking why compliments feel so hard to receive—especially for Gen X women—and what’s really happening beneath the surface when praise makes us cringe.
We talk about the conditioning many of us grew up with: don’t take up space, don’t get too confident, don’t make it about you. And how those old belief systems can create a very real nervous system response when someone sees us, acknowledges us, or reflects something positive back to us.
I share personal stories and client experiences that highlight how deflecting compliments isn’t a character flaw—it’s often a form of self-protection. But it’s also something we can gently unlearn.
This conversation is about building self-trust, allowing connection, and learning to receive without pressure, perfection, or performance. Because receiving a compliment isn’t about ego—it’s about letting yourself be seen.
If you’ve ever struggled to accept kind words, this episode is an invitation to soften, get curious, and practice receiving with a little more ease.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode- Why so many women in their 40s and 50s struggle with receiving compliments
- How praise can trigger disbelief, self-doubt, or discomfort
- The role societal conditioning plays in teaching women to minimize themselves
- How old belief systems can create a nervous system response to compliments
- Why deflecting praise is often self-protection—not humility
- How receiving compliments supports confidence and genuine connection
- Why self-trust is essential for accepting kind words gracefully
- How complimenting others can expand your capacity to receive
- Simple ways to practice self-acceptance and self-compliments
- Why confidence in midlife comes from embracing who you are right now
Want to get a jumpstart on new habits? Grab a copy of my
Weight Loss Checklist and start each day with your goal in mind