For a period of one or two days, apply a "wonderful me" filter to all your conversations. Try to become aware of any tendency you may have to hint or tell people things to make yourself seem more successful, interesting, knowledgeable, well-traveled, and so on.
- Notice the way that others use conversation for the same purpose.
- Also be aware of how you respond to criticism, direct and implied. If your usual reaction is to become defensive, experiment with the opposite by agreeing with your critic. If appropriate, express regret and the determination never to let offending action happen again. Observe any changes in the dynamics of the conversation.
- Try letting "the renown of others" outshine yours. If you’re not in the habit of praising other people’s personal or professional qualities, experiment with doing this appropriately, both directly and through a third party. Observe how it feels to do this.