Why Compliments Make Us Squirm

For many, compliments are paradoxically both uplifting and unsettling. A kind word about our achievements, talents, or even our appearance can feel undeserved or insincere. This discomfort often stems from deep-rooted insecurities or the nagging voice of imposter feelings, which convince us that we aren’t as competent or worthy as others perceive.

Psychologists attribute this discomfort to cognitive dissonance—the mental tension that arises when our self-perception doesn’t align with how others see us.