At time we want to be recognized for what we do. It helps feed our EGO. The issue comes when we praise our own self. I was told that praises should come from someone else rather than out of your own mouth. That iron sharpens iron. If two people have similar thoughts and similar understandings then going back and forth hashing out thoughts and ideas will sharpen each other. Trying to sharpen your sword against cotton will not have a sharpening effect, in fact it will dull the sword.