I sometimes catch myself responding to a compliment like it is a criticism.

I get uncomfortable, I deflect it, I reciprocate, I do anything to belittle it or distract myself from it.

But like criticism, it lingers and persists in its impact.

The walls we build to protect ourselves from criticism serve as a barrier to compliments too.

Both criticism and compliments are two sides of a coin required for growth.

I have decided to work as much on building my capacity for compliments as I am doing for criticism.

– Osasu Oviawe