Feel compliments as deeply as you feel insults.

James Clear’s trajectory toward becoming a behavioral science expert began in high school, when he spent many months recovering from a life-threatening sports injury. Slowing down caused him to study others’ actions and take inventory of his own thought patterns. The author of the bestselling “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” noticed the shared tendency to downplay praise and amplify criticism. In September 2021, Clear shared this insight in his email newsletter: “It’s crazy how 1,000 people can compliment you and you’ll spend all day thinking about the one person who criticized you.” He encourages us to instead take time to appreciate each bit of recognition, a practice that promotes active listening and a healthy sense of self-worth.