Many times, I have told people that they are destined to become great. Most people don’t do well in accepting compliments and “prophesies” about their future greatness, and they remain like Il’fa since they aren’t Temimus’dik. They are “smart” and skeptical, and they see through my “cheap” compliments. They exclaim: “You say that to everyone, and it’s worth nothing”.
That’s why Yaakov is described as an Ish Tam, and Noach as Tzaddik Tamim. Those who have Temimus come out ahead. Novardok was very encouraging to be a Tam. תֻמַת יְשָרִים תַנְחֵם (Mishlei 11:3) The Temimus of the straight guides them to success in life. It’s all up to the person! I have heard in the name of many top M'chanchim and Gedolim that so often, the reason for success is self-confidence.
But the Yetzer Hara is: עָרּום מִכָל הַחַיֹות more-clever than anyone else, a smooth and sharp person who “can’t be fooled” by cheap flattery, and the person remains an Il’fa instead of a Rabbi Yochanan! So from now on, if someone gives you a compliment [even farfetched] suspect that every exaggeration has a grain of truth, and consider it as if: שְכִינָה מְדַבֶרֶת מִתֹוךְ גְרֹונֹו the Shechina is directly speaking to you through this person’s throat.