How do you react when you are being criticized? I once was afraid of it when I just stepped into the marketplace. It seemed like disapproval of my ability and even my personality. Yet, the longer I have spent in the marketplace, the stronger I feel that people who are willing to criticize us in person are valuable. They don’t have to do this for our growth. My ex-principal, my life mentor, taught me that if we listen to constructive criticism, we will be at home among the wise; But if we reject it, we only harm ourselves. People criticizing us implies that they still have hope for us. We need to clarify whether the criticism aims to destroy us or try to offer us opportunities to grow. Constructive criticism should always be welcomed, especially if given in a spirit of love. “To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry – Proverbs 25:12.” On the contrary, “Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. – Proverbs 29:1.” People may try to destroy us or build us with criticism, but we always grow by listening to them with humility.