"Feedback is supposed to help us grow-but let's be honest: Sometimes it just makes us feel small. Maybe you've had that moment-someone shares a critique or a suggestion, and instead of feeling energized to improve, you feel like you're not good enough, that you've failed. You walk away doubting yourself, your abilities, and maybe even questioning whether you belong. That reaction is more common than we admit."
"Feedback can sting for a few reasons. Sometimes it can be delivered poorly-without empathy, clarity, or encouragement. But often, the sting comes from within, regardless of delivery. It taps into self-doubt, past experiences, past failures, or the pressure we put on ourselves to be good from the get-go, or the best, or perfect. In these moments, feedback feels less like a helpful guide and more like a harsh, unforgiving judgment. But here's the good news: It doesn't have to feel that way."
Feedback often triggers feelings of inadequacy when delivered poorly or when internal self-doubt and past failures are activated. Warm, kind delivery helps, but individual mindset determines whether feedback leads to growth or shrinking. Frequent feedback supports rapid improvement for people learning new jobs, especially for those with limited experience and confidence. Adopting a pro-mindset reframes critiques as expected prompts to fix problems rather than judgments of worth. Reframing feedback and focusing on the journey already traveled sustains motivation and turns critiques into clear, actionable steps toward better performance.
Read at Psychology Today
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