Both Luanda and Maurice learned a valuable lesson. Luanda learned to expect honesty if you ask for it, and Maurice learned that not every person who asks for honest feedback really wants it.

We can learn much from other people. We can learn from their experiences, their failures, and yes, their successes. We can learn, however, only if we are willing to listen to their feedback on an honest level. We can learn only if we give them the chance to honestly be critical of our work without the threat of retaliation, violence, anger, or loss of relationships.

People with the healthiest self-esteem are those who welcome the comments of others for improvement. They know how to distinguish between positive, constructive feedback, and useless, self-serving, destructive comments and feedback.

Remember that feedback that is useful centers on your work, your actions, your progress, and your projects. Feedback that attacks you as a person is useless and unproductive. By learning to accept feedback, you can begin to admit and work on your shortcomings. You can begin to improve your behaviors, attitudes, and actions if you decide that this is the right thing for you.

By learning to admit your weaknesses, you will soon realize how liberating it is to know that no one can use this information against you anymore. You have the power to eliminate this worry from your life. You also have the power to begin working to eliminate this weakness or shortcoming from your life if it is of great concern to you. Just remember, the boat is full of people just like you, imperfections and all.