The Compliment Game

Human Beings tend to have a Negative Bias. This makes sense from an evolutionary point of view that it was better to be cautious than to ignore crucial signs and warnings.

Generally those who did not take heed of these signs never lived long enough to have children… And therefore the cautious, skeptical and negative traits were passed down from generation to generation.

However I think it can be said that in day-to-day life (especially here in Oslo) we no longer need to fear dangerous animals in the Woods who may want to eat us. As someone who spends vast, vast amounts of time in the Oslomarka woods I can confirm this.

But what if you could override this negative prejudice thought pattern? A very simple way is to play the Compliment Game.

The game is unbelievably simple and can be played really anywhere and at all times.

Here is the main and only rule: when someone or something comes into your focus you must find a compliment to say about them or it. You do not have to say it out loud, and can just think it to yourself.

It really doesn’t matter whether you are complimenting an item of their clothing, a feature of their body or just their general aura.

Give it to go and you will see what I mean by about the time you get to person number 10. There is a shift away from the negative bias towards a happier, more inclusive self.

Within the space of a few hundred metres you may well for example see a man with some snazzy gloves, a youth with a cheeky grin, a lady with a fantastic matching scarf and jacket, an elderly gentleman with the aura of Robert de Niro. (I saw all of these by the way).

I was still playing the game when I parked up at home…. I saw an elderly gentleman picking his way around a rather large ice patch. I smiled and informed him that it looked like he had the vast experience of a man who has navigated slippery ice on many occasions.

To cut a long story short, we then had a very pleasant 5 minute conversation where he asked all about our Dog Adventures, having seen the sign on my van.

I think I will credit the Compliment Game for that rather genuine and authentic experience and conversation.

Why not give it a go and see where it may lead you?

Doggies: Balto, Sara, Leopold and Isak