Receiving a compliment without arguing with it is its own kind of gratitude.

Deflecting praise feels modest and is actually a return to sender. Somebody spent something to say the kind thing, and the reflex that corrects them, explains the luck, or points out the flaw tells them their judgment was wrong. Taking it means letting their view of you stand next to yours without fixing it.

Next time somebody says something good about you, say thank you and stop. No qualifier, no joke, no returning the compliment immediately to even it up. Sit with the two seconds of discomfort. Then notice, later, whether you give compliments the same way you take them.