​Have you ever wondered why some people are able to take criticism in stride while others seem to be crushed by it? During an interview with Jennifer Lopez on her television talk show, Rachel Ray asked her how she was able to deal with all the criticism that went along with being a star. Ms. Lopez gave a very confident and impressive answer. She said, “Know who you are, stay true to that and try to get better.” Criticism only hurts if you’re not sure who you are or if you’re trying to be someone you’re not because in those situations you’re dependent on other people’s approval to feel good about yourself. Knowing who you are, on the other hand, gives you the necessary confidence to deal with the criticism of others because you’re not dependent on their approval to feel good about yourself. Instead, you feel good about yourself simply because you feel good about who you are.