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Although your behavior is certainly a big part of who you are, it isn't everything and doesn't point to everything you're capable of doing. Think about great artists, athletes, musicians, and business people who started out small and may have been rejected at first. Your sense of self doesn't need to depend entirely on your current or past behavior. Instead of taking criticism as a personal attack on your worth as a person, think of it as localized to the particular action being discussed. If you're being criticized for writing a bad essay, consider the fact that with practice you could write a better essay. Accept the criticism without over-generalizing. Be generous about the other person's intent. They may actually want to offer constructive criticism and help you do a better job in the future. After hearing them out, you can assess whether their intentions are good or if they're simply attacking you. If it's an attack, you can simply disregard what they're saying.  Avoid taking "good" criticism personally. Receiving constructive criticism is actually an important part of learning how to improve your abilities. For example, if you are taking an English class and the teacher points our an error in your writing, thank her for her input, which will help you become a better writer. Research shows that the ability to be vulnerable is tied to being successful and happy. Being willing to listen to criticism is an important form of vulnerability. If the criticism is targeted toward a specific behavior and you do see room for improvement, be thankful for the attention brought to your performance, so that you can correct the mistake. Criticism can actually contain gifts that lead to a better version of yourself, even if the person's intentions aren't kind. Be patient with yourself. Self-improvement can be a powerful force in your life, but self-compassion is an essential component to positive growth. Practice makes perfect, so consider this experience an opportunity to hone your criticism-handling skills. Thank the person for giving you an occasion to practice the behaviors listed in this guide. Only thank the person if it's genuine! Sarcasm may feel satisfying in the moment, but it's a hostile mode of communication that's frequently perceived as negative and can create additional friction between you.
Separate yourself from the criticism. Hear the person out. Do better next time. Use the experience to grow.