Nowadays, there's lots of advice on how to give praise and positive comments to others, but few suggestions on how to receive the flattering(承)messages. Accepting praise can make many people feel like a fish out of water because even when we are proud of our achievements, we don't want to appear proud. This is exactly how 1 felt at my dad's birthday party.

Just a few days before, I received my university results; my parents were so proud of me. On arrival, every guest already knew my grades. As the party went on, dozens of people greeted me with warm, heartfelt congratulations. I was surrounded by so much unexpected praise! Concerned about stealing my dad's spotlight, I tried to turn the kind attention away from myself and mention the background. I joked that the professor must have been in a very good mood when she marked my paper, and that I was just "lucky".

Few of us wish to appear vain(自负的). We may worry that our honor will cause envy(如忌)from others. In the workplace, there's fear that praise might bring extra work and higher expectations. Now that your boss has seen you are ago-getter, they're going to pile on the pressure!

Looking back, the praise I received from the guests at the party was heartfelt. My degree hadn't helped them in any way so there was no duty for them to comment, but they still cared enough to say “well done". Instead of ignoring the praise, I should comment on how kind they were for noticing, or how pleased I was with my achievements.

Another good choice is to "forward" praise—perhaps other people played a part in your success and deserve to share the attention. If you're still lost for words, a simple "thank you" is the best way to go. So, the next time you get the praise you deserve, don't hide your pride and try to enjoy the moment.

Improving your family life can help make your family members closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone’s happiness. 【小题1】.

Talk to your family members at the end of the day. 【小题2】. That way, they can understand you and generally know what’s going on in your life. In turn, it is equally important that you know about their lives too, so that they feel understood, supported and realize that they are not alone.

Set aside time for regular family activities. You can do fun activities together to relax yourselves. 【小题3】. If possible, leave at least an afternoon or evening per week for a family activity. Keep it low-key, and focus on having fun together and enjoying each other’s company.

Show sincere concern about your family members. 【小题4】. If you love them, then tell them that you love them. If you care about them, tell them this. Go out of your way to remind each family member what glues you all together—love, care and support.

【小题5】. Do not always give a lot of advice to your family members. Just hear them out at times. That is all they need. Make eye contact with them, nod your head, and say things like, “I understand,” when appropriate. Make sure they know that whatever they are talking about, you are there to listen and be supportive.

By doing so, you can surely develop a close family relationship with your family members.