A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool.

Flattery travels toward whoever needs it most. A person who cannot see themselves clearly has to keep supplying the good opinion from somewhere, and will take it from anyone willing to hand it over. A person who sees themselves plainly has no such shortage, which is exactly what lets them give praise away without feeling the loss. Compliments work less like judgements than like currency, and the ones least hungry for it spend it most freely.

Notice which compliments you find yourself fishing for this week. Those spots are where your own view of yourself has worn thin, and they are worth looking at directly.