When was the last time you got a compliment? Remember how you felt? Encouragement is vital to the human spirit. A person can accomplish so much more by listening to affirming words rather than critical ones.

In her book Balcony People, Joyce Heathday describes balcony people as those who cheer one on. It’s like having one’s own cheering section. The opposite of balcony people are cellar people. The cellar person is always criticizing and putting a person down.

So, which one are we—a balcony friend or a cellar person?