Praise vs Affirmation

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It’s common to use the words “praise” and “affirmation” interchangeably, but there is actually a big difference between the two. Praise is often given in response to something that has been done well, whereas affirmation is more focused on who the person is, rather than what they have done.

Praise tends to be more externally focused, while affirmation is more internal. For example, if you were to compliment someone on their outfit, that would be an instance of praise. On the other hand, if you told someone that you loved the way they carried themselves with confidence, that would be an affirmation.