170. How to Stop Taking Feedback So Personally (Handling Negative & Constructive Feedback)

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Receiving negative feedback or constructive criticism can feel deeply personal - even when you’re doing well and most feedback is positive. If you’ve ever struggled with feed criticism at work, felt knocked by feedback, or wondered “why do I take feedback so personally?”, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore why negative feedback hurts so much, how low confidence cycles and self-criticism make feedback harder to handle, and why struggling with criticism is often part of a bigger emotional picture. I also share my own experience of finding feedback painful and how that changed over time.

We talk about:

• ​Why we take feedback personally and emotionally
• ​How to handle negative feedback at work with more confidence
• ​The difference between unfair feedback and constructive feedback
• ​Power dynamics and why some feedback feels unsafe
• ​Common reactions to criticism (defensiveness, shutdown, panic)
• ​How to stop spiralling after negative feedback
• ​How to build confidence so feedback feels manageable
• ​A practical mindset shift to help you receive feedback without collapsing

If you want to handle criticism better, stop overthinking feedback, and feel more confident when receiving negative feedback, this episode will help you start changing your relationship with feedback - with time, a bit of compassion, and practice.

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Cover art by Jacob McFadden

Theme song by Melissa Carter @ Making Audio Magic