After a speech at a fast food restaurant chain's national meeting an employee told me how she used to always get furious and lash out when somebody tried to give her criticism.  However, one time when someone started to criticize her, she took a deep breath and for the first time in her life, held her tongue and listened.  And, according to her, she really learned some constructive things that changed her life.

      What did this employee do?  She did what most of us need to do more often¾bite our tongues and listen.  Too many people are so intent on being right, justifying, getting defensive, and trying to prove how interesting they are, that they never hear anyone else's opinion.

      Most people love to learn, but they hate to be taught.  You see, teaching includes criticism, and most people can't stand to be criticized.  How about you?  Do you dislike being criticized?  If so, look at it this way¾being criticized gives you the information you need in order to self-correct.  If you can't take criticism, how are you going to make things better?  How are you going to learn?  How are you going to grow?  Here's a rule you can use for the rest of your life: Make it 100 percent okay to receive criticism. 

      Think of criticism as music to your ears.  When some people hear it, they get moody.  They get upset.  Don't be so thin-skinned.  Criticism doesn’t mean that the critic is right.  However, just take the time to listen and consider, Hey, maybe I can make a little adjustment here, a little tuck there.  Maybe I can set some higher goals for myself.  Test it.  We need the criticism.  We need the input.  Knowledge is power, and the way to get knowledge is feedback.  Criticism is feedback.

      Think of it this way.  If you looked in the mirror this morning, you got feedback.  Why do we do this?  We need feedback in order to assure ourselves that we are on course.  That's what criticism is.  You may have stepped on the scale this morning to weigh yourself.  After checking your scale's criticism, you might not go on an instant diet, but you might take a moment to consider cutting back on your next meal.  Therefore, not only are you accepting criticism, but you are also making changes.  And change is what life is all about.  To grow, improve, and succeed in life you must receive criticism. 

(Excerpt taken from Stuff Happens (and then you fix it! by John Alston.)