CRITICISM AND YOUR IMAGE

In order to make the following discussion as concrete as possible, I shall speak directly to you, the reader. How you personally handle criticism is related to the way in which you perceive yourself and how you want others to perceive you.

The way in which you perceive yourself is your “self-image,” which consists of the beliefs you hold about yourself and the values based on those beliefs. Your self-image—like mine and every one else’s—was bestowed on you by your parents, siblings, and family, as well as your teachers, peers, and friends. If you were fortunate enough to be treated well by these people, you developed positive, healthy self-esteem, which translates into a positive sense of self-worth and a corresponding self-image. Unfortunately, the converse is also true.

The way in which you would like others to perceive you is your “public image” or “persona,” which you, as well as almost…