In response to unpleasant comments about personal hygiene, etiquette expert Sara Jane Ho suggests thanking the person providing the feedback. She emphasizes that while it's natural to feel defensive, reframing the comment as a chance for improvement is crucial. Secure individuals handle criticism better than insecure ones. Ho and fellow etiquette coach Akilah Siti Easter both advocate for expressing gratitude to those who offer helpful suggestions, viewing it as a sign of friendship and care. Teaching children the importance of receiving feedback positively helps them grow and maintain self-awareness.
Every time somebody tells you something, 50 people are thinking it but didn't tell you, Ho says. Hence the importance of uttering those two little words: thank you.
It's essential not to take the feedback personally though she acknowledges that's easier said than done. This is when you really see a difference between an insecure person and a secure person.
If someone lets her know she might want to brush her teeth, I actually tell them I appreciate that, she says. Thanks for not letting me embarrass myself in front of more people.
She is teaching her daughter to accept and appreciate suggestions about hygiene, too. I'm letting her know that feedback is a form of care and concern.
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