Why is it so hard to accept a compliment for something that is done well? I suspect this is an Australian thing: afraid of being considered “big headed”, we hide behind false modesty (or perhaps genuine modesty), and make a joke about the thing that was done.
This also rears its head when friends get together to recall something that has been well done: we lack a language for discussing the positive aspects, knowing only how to critique, or to tear down.
This week, why not look for something that has been done well, and tell the person concerned exactly why they’ve done a good job, then comment here about what you did.
That’s a good point. I see it in myself on the rare occasions i get compliments (wait, did I just do it then?).
Might try it.