Billi and Renee: It is a strange feeling to be complimented, isn't it? Even when I know I am deserving, it still doesn't feel right with me. I can gush to others about how proud I am of a certain success, but when it comes to accepting it from others, it just does not compute. I even find myself getting angry at times when people compliment me.

So, how does one deal with this? Fortunately(?), I have narcissistic tendencies, so I can, at times, hold on to those praises and enjoy them for what they are, but eventually they are either squashed by my internal chatter or forgotten completely. I find I must look for the good in myself, again and again. I can never seem to build upon my successes. I am always trying to rebuild from, what I perceive as, nothing. Moving forward becomes almost an impossibility. In fact, if it weren't for outside forces, I would be frozen in time/thought/space...

Still looking for an up-side here, I guess...