Getting the Clap

Most of us give applause far more often than we receive it. This lack of practice, combined with a lifetime of humility conditioning, means when we DO receive applause we suck at it, suck the life out of it, and ruin the moment. Many of us have a similar aversion to receiving compliments. Tall Poppy Syndrome has us terrified of being torn down, and our risk-averse brains want to hide and deflect. When we shy away from those moments - be they raucous applause or a gentle compliment - we stymie joy for the giver of the praise. We shut down connection and appreciation. That’s a bit of a waste, isn’t it? And a bit egotistical. We prioritise our own cautious safety over receiving another’s joy. Rude!