Fill up those praise folders

One small tip that’s served me and many of my clients over the years: anytime someone says something nice about you, record it in a central place that you can go back to. Keep up this habit for even a few months, and you will start to have a little resource for the days when your inner critic tries to tell you that you’re no good at anything. I’ve kept a folder called “praise” for over fifteen years, and it’s been a salve on many a rainy day. Even more than that, it’s a steady reminder of the people I’ve loved working with—and for whom the admiration is mutual. That leads me to a bonus suggestion: on the days you do find yourself tapping into that folder for a needed pep talk, do one of your favorite colleagues a favor and give them something they can put into their praise folder. You’ll both feel great for it, I promise.