Not every negative review is helpful advice. Someone can point out a real omission, and someone can judge us according to prejudice or their own fear. It is important to distinguish the content of the remark from the way it was uttered.
Concrete criticism tells what is wrong and leaves the possibility to check it. An insult usually reduces the whole person to a label. Such an evaluation should not become the basis of our opinion about ourselves.
We can listen to the remark, look for an example, and accept the part that makes sense. For the rest, setting a boundary is enough. There is no need to prove our worth to anyone who questions our right to try.
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