Sunday Firesides: Compliment Deflection is Gift Denial

You hand someone a gift and they eagerly tear off the paper around the box. But as they examine the present that was wrapped inside, their smile quickly fades. “This isn’t right for me,” they say. “Here, you can have it back.”

Ouch. Hopefully, you’ve never given this kind of response to receiving a tangible present. Yet you’ve likely done it when receivi…