Giving a compliment is easy. Truly receiving one is surprisingly hard for most people. You laugh it off, throw it straight back, or make a joke. Your mind says "just take it," but your body has already closed the shutters. What literally happens then: your breath catches. And when your breath catches, you also block the emotion that goes with the compliment. The fix isn't trying harder to feel grateful, it's in your breath. The next time someone gives you a compliment: don't brush it off straight away with a shy "oh, it was nothing." Instead, imagine breathing the compliment in. That way both your breath and your emotions keep flowing. Practise this consciously over the coming week, not just for yourself but for the other person too. Every giver needs a receiver.