Flattery can get your everywhere or nowhere, so the sayings go. When we are susceptible to flattery, you stand a good change of falling into falsehoods about yourself and others. Because it’s much easier for me to praise than to criticize, I have to be careful to watch that I don’t slide from sincerity into manipulation.

It’s worth taking a mindful approach to this to understand how it impacts you and others. Today give someone close to you a sincere compliment that’s as specific as possible. Be attentive to how you feel, particularly if you get a compliment in response.