Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive

Negative comments and criticism often seems to hold more weight than positive feedback. Unkind remarks, criticism, hurtful comments – all these take root, echoing round and round in our heads. Compliments, on the other hand, seem to be forgotten much more quickly – sometimes even dismissed instantly. Are we afraid to take them on board because we are afraid of becoming conceited, or just because we don’t really believe them? I once started keeping a “compliments book” to try and help me focus on the positive words not the negatives. Five years on, I’ve still only managed to fill a few pages.