How do I handle criticism without taking it personally?

Taking criticism personally is a natural human response, but it can be incredibly painful and prevent you from benefiting from potentially valuable feedback. The key is learning to separate your worth as a person from specific behaviors or outcomes that are being criticized. Start by pausing before reacting emotionally - take a deep breath and try to evaluate the criticism objectively. Ask yourself: Is this feedback about something specific I did, or is it an attack on my character? Is the person giving criticism someone whose opinion I value and respect? Do they have expertise in this area? Is there any truth to what they're saying that I can learn from? Sometimes criticism says more about the person giving it than about you - they might be having a bad day, dealing with their own insecurities, or have unrealistic expectations. Other times, even harshly delivered criticism contains valuable information that can help you grow. Try to extract any useful feedback while discarding the emotional charge or personal attacks. Remember that you can acknowledge mistakes or areas for improvement without defining yourself by them. Everyone makes errors and has room to grow - that's part of being human, not evidence that you're fundamentally flawed. Practice self-compassion and remind yourself that your worth isn't determined by others' opinions or your performance in any single situation.