Why is it? Discuss.

Why is it so hard for people to recognize the good things about themselves, yet it is all too easy to spot and say the bad things?

We ask a person what they like about themselves, and the result is either two things:
1) they have to think a very long time to come up with at least one thing that they like about themselves or
2) they answer right away.

The good thing about number 2 is that it shows they have confidence (some of the time), yet the bad thing is, they sometimes appear as conceited and rude to other people. I don't know if anybody else has noticed this, but I have.

Could this be a case of not having enough confidence in ourselves, modesty, or as the saying goes, being your own worst critic?

So my question is, why IS it so hard? Why can't people accept a compliment when it comes their way? Why is it so hard to think of a good thing when asked?

This is not necessarily a debate, just something that I'd like to hear your thoughts on and discuss. This is something that really gets to me.

I don't like hearing compliments for the simple reason that they are used so much.

When people are in trouble they compliment the person that is about to punish them. When people want to get in bed with someone they compliment them on their appearence. When people are making fun of someone.. they ''compliment'' on their clothing.. or.. hairstyle.. and later make fun of it.

It's annoying and useless. My opinion anyway. Peace.

Yeah I see what you mean. I hate flattery, too.
But what about sincere opinions? You must have gotten a compliment before that was honest and sincere and was given for no reason, just to build up your confidence in a good way?

I don't need my confidence built up by someone I probably could care less about. I'm very cocky.. lol. I don't need help in that department.

you look at a painting. and you will only see beauty.

the artist who drew it will look at the painting, and no where they had made a wrong line.

to you it will look like its supposed to be there, to them it will distroy the painting.

our body, our personality, is like our painting, we will see flaws that others will think is beautiful.

i believe it is just human nature. just society who had put us into this spot. we will look at the models, and see beauty. wish to look like them

but later see the eating disorders, them with out makeup, ect, and see for ourselves we are as pretty as any other person.

but we already have the ideal in our heads that we are not perfect the way we are, so we will still critisize ourselves for it.

-/2 Terra

That's a difficult matter. Sure, if you asked me what's something that you like about yourself, I'd say my hair and my eyes.
What I find awkward is when someone says "Wow, you have beautiful eyes," and gee, they're only average. So what can I say "thanks." that's all... and then someone goes over-board to gush that I'm beautiful, and I feel terrible because in my life all the people that I have wanted to appeal to couldn't care less, and all the people whose opinions I don't value as much seem to think that I'm gorgeous.
Which is frustrating. Slowly I'm learning to look on the bright side, but I've been dark and depressive about life for so long, that it gets more difficult every day.

//T.L.//

personally i never say anything i think i like about myself or anything i'm good at because i am scared the person i tell wont think the same as me and i will look like a fool. i no this shouldn't be right and i hate myself for saying it. but i genuanially care so much what peoples impressions and perceptions of me are. but the other reason i don't except compliments alot of the time is because i really don't think there true. i see very little gud in myself ( and i'm not just being one of those attention seeking teenie boppers) but i relli don't. so why say something u don't mean.

^ I know what you mean. I feel the same sometimes :)