The one compliment that can make him feel capable of anything.
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“You’re brilliant, babe!”
I never forgot the first time my best friend said that to me. I’d never had anyone describe me in that way and honestly, I loved it.
I’d been nervous about putting myself out there as a writer. I felt intimidated because there are so many great authors out there. I was measuring myself against some invisible bar. I wasn’t a professional writer. I didn’t think my writing was at a level that any editor would be interested but I had a cheerleader on the sideline. She said that my opinions on different subjects did matter and I should share my voice.
That one sentence changed everything.
It felt empowering. It made me feel important. It made me feel like “the man” – far more than her paying any other compliment. Months later, I’m more confident pitching now. I’m not afraid to say I’m a writer. When I had to sit down and write a proposal at my new job, I knew as soon as I hit “send” that it was a done-deal. I trust my talent as a writer enough to let it speak for itself.
A man needs to hear that his value goes beyond his masculinity.
The greatest compliment a woman can give to a man is to celebrate his talent as a mental giant.
To celebrate a man’s brilliance is to acknowledge that you know there’s something about him that inherently makes him unique. Being brilliant is more than being smart. It’s more than knowing a little about a lot. The compliment’s underlying implication is that whatever his skill or talent is, you believe that he’s the best at it.
You believe in him.
Oftentimes, men sputter while we’re trying to find purpose. Going at something alone is a lot of pressure. We tend to mask those insecurities by focusing on our bodies or calling attention to things easily seen. Having a woman who can see past all of that and see substance within is a priceless thing.
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I once had a woman tell me that it made her happy to hear me talk about my goals and dreams because it was one of the few times I showed genuine happiness. Knowing that she thought I was brilliant made it easier to share my ideas with her. I knew her unwavering support was automatic. Even if my dreams were a little too ambitious, I knew that I had someone who could rein me in and help me focus my energy into creating something meaningful.
The ability to see brilliance in a man is also a compliment to a woman. It takes discernment and a special emotional investment. It takes vision – the same concept that is birthed from a man’s brilliance.
Brilliance is defined in the following ways;
–Shining brightly
-Distinguished
-Having or showing great intelligence, talent, or quality
To compliment a man by calling him brilliant is essentially saying that out of many, he is one.
There’s no better all-encompassing compliment than that.
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