A Hongkonger named BYL felt that people in the city often complained too much and were too shy about praising others.

“I realised there are a lot of good, little things happening every day,” BYL said. But he pointed out that many people took these positive moments for granted, and he found this to be “very unbalanced”.

“In the Chinese community, people are rather stingy with praise,” said BYL, who prefers to only share his nickname.

To encourage people to praise each other more often, he started an Instagram page called @whynotpraise last year. On the page, BYL shares appreciation for different groups every day and spreads joy to others. He also provides a letter-writing service to help others express their gratitude.

The account has more than 7,000 followers, and BYL has written over 50 letters thanking people.

The Hongkonger explained that being kind and grateful also helped him feel happier.

“I used to be quite harsh on people, thinking that doing a good job comes naturally,” he said. But this project has inspired him to be more empathetic to others.

“We are all experiencing life. Why be so harsh?” BYL said.

How to share praise

James Yu, a professor and psychologist, said that getting praised helps release dopamine, a chemical that makes us happy. Dopamine is also released when we receive love, buy something we like or eat tasty food.

You might feel shy about showing your appreciation, so you can try writing down your praises instead. Yu said it would not matter if the compliment was written or spoken, as long as it came from the heart.

But praising someone on social media “might not be as powerful” as a direct compliment, Yu added. A personal letter is better than writing a message online because it shows that you took the time to craft a thoughtful message.

Use the crossword below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.

Sample answers

1. Before you read: (answers may vary)

2. Stop and think: BYL started his Instagram page to encourage people in Hong Kong to praise others more often.

3. Consider: James Yu said that writing a personal letter would be more powerful than just sending them a message on social media.