When we work, when we play, when we are at school or, simply when we are with people; always, when you do something we can do something wrong. It is regular, it is normal, it is human.And it is also possible that some colleagues, or friends, or relatives can tell us that we are doing something wrong.

What happens in these cases?

Are we able to accept criticism in a constructive way?

Some people are able to do this but, for the most part, it is very difficult.But, to accept criticism it is very important for our life because it helps us to grow and do always better.

Try to see why:

• Criticism is a form of interest: if someone is giving us a feedback, it means that he observed us and thought to correct us. It is a way to express interest for us and the things we do

• Criticism forces us to think about our work and the way we are doing it; it means that it gives us an advantage over other people.

So what we can do to learn criticism in a constructive way?

The first thing to do is the stop the first reaction because often it is the wrong one and it put us on a defensive side. 

The second thing to do is to think that to have a feedback on what we have done or told it is very important to improve our skills, abilities, and relationship, but the only way we can learn from criticism is to be opened and ready to listen and understanding, without personalizing or catastrophism.

When we really understand that criticism can help us, it will be very easy to say thank you to people that have given us the right feedback.The real difficult thing to do, however, as it is easy to understand, is to stop the first reaction.

What can we do it?

To breathe deeply and doing meditation are, surely, two of the most useful techniques that we can use; but even to distract ourselves with exercises or music can be very good and this is because, to take a while to quiet our mind is, the best thing to do if we feel hurt by criticism.

But the best way at all to accept criticism in a positive way is using humor: to smile and, why not? Laugh sometimes about us can be a very good way to overcome difficult or embarrassing moments and admitting the faults is the only way to be quite sure to do better the next time.