Praise can be pleasant and criticism unpleasant. However, neither, on its own, tells us enough about our work or about the intention of the one who utters it.
The content is worth listening to. What did the person notice? Can they give an example? Do they know the circumstances and the business they are talking about? Honest criticism sometimes helps more than praise that just keeps us satisfied.
Other people's opinions should neither be blindly accepted nor rejected in advance. When we know what we are trying to do and by what criteria we are evaluating our work, it is easier to discern what is useful to us.
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