According to Sue Shellenbarger, columnist for the Wall Street Journal, learning to accept criticism is “a skill that requires practice, humility and a sizable dose of self-awareness. But the ability to learn from criticism fuels creativity at work, studies show, and helps the free flow of valuable communication.” We need to hear criticism, and we need to learn to accept it. That said, not all criticism is good criticism. There are people who try to break you down and insult you just for the sake of being cruel or making themselves feel better; on the other hand, constructive criticism, which is meant to be honest, helpful feedback to steer you in the direction of self-improvement can be really beneficial. According to Steven Stosny, Ph.D. in an article for Psychology Today, there is a big difference between criticism and feedback. “Criticism focuses on what’ s wrong: Why can’t you pay attention to the bills? Feedback focuses on how to improve: Let’s go over the bills together.” Some criticism aims to insult or imply blame, while other criticism is meant to help you improve. You need to know the difference, and then you need to think about how you respond—or perhaps more accurately how you should respond—when you are faced with those kinds of constructive feedback.
