There will always be people who don’t like what you create. They might have something to say about it, too. “Constructive criticism” serves a useful purpose as advice for you to consider. It can be difficult to accept criticism from someone, but you have to notice the difference in someone who wants to help you and someone who wants to hurt you. It’s your job to notice that difference.

Related: Find Creatives & Collaborate

So how can you take constructive criticism while staying confident?

Related: Good Enough, Not Good Enough

Accept that you’re not perfect.

Confidence can be good…to an extent. You might be super confident in your abilities and believe there’s no room for improvement, but let’s be honest, that’s not the case.

You probably think your art is so great and that’s all there is to it, and there’s no room for improvement. Ahhhh, but there is.

There will be people who will notice things that you can’t see and you should be thankful for them. If they point them out, it’s because they want to help you reach your full potential. If they offer valuable information for you, take it and run with it!

Related: If You Don’t Understand What H Is, This Article Is For You

Listen to the people who know what they’re talking about.

Only take constructive criticism from those who have had experience in what you’re doing.

If someone offers genuine constructive criticism, it’s because they want you to get better at what you’re doing. The best people to get constructive criticism from are mentors. They have experience and they get it and they want to see you succeed and not make the same mistakes they did. You should only accept advice from those who know what they’re talking about.

Art is subjective and we all have different perspectives on something. If someone – who isn’t in the same creative field as you – offers advice on your art and what you should change or do different, take it with a grain of salt. If an experienced creative offers advice, let them help you and understand that no one and nothing is perfect. You want to get better at what you do, right? Constructive criticism is good. We promise.