The word “criticism” is enough to raise one’s hackles. We bristle up like porcupines, ready to shoot our angry quills into our critics. As Dale Carnegie said: “Criticism wounds a man’s pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentment.” Of course, all criticism is not fault-finding. When applied constructively, criticism can serve as positive reinforcement and motivate changes for the better. It is, therefore, important to learn how to handle criticism without resentment (when it’s valid) and how to ignore that which is unjustified.
Points to Ponder
Consider who your critic is.
Is he a friend or a casual acquaintance? Or is he someone who dislikes you? Perhaps, is he in competition with you? Does he covet your job, social status, knowledge, or wealth?
