I arrived home and let out a frustrated sigh. I tossed my bag and mat on the living room floor and began to roll out the kinks in my neck. JD asked what was wrong so I recounted being utterly annoyed with my yoga instructor. In short, he critiqued a particular posture of mine in front of the class, for a full four minutes. This might not sound like a long time, but in a room with 30 bodies and 110-degree heat, it was irritating.

I wish he just let me do it wrong. I liked doing it wrong. Sometimes I feel better on my own without someone critiquing my every movement.

JD looked at me with bewilderment and insisted I had it all wrong. I was being critiqued because the instructor saw untapped potential, not the opportunity to make me look like a fool. I realized in that moment how hard it is to receive feedback when you're working hard simply to make it through.

As artists and creatives, we strive to get better, but we often shield ourselves from feedback because it hits too close to home. What's important to realize is–if coming from the right person–the critique can only make you stronger.

If you're feeling stuck or at a plateau, reach out to someone for an honest assessment of your work. It'll be a chance to see what they see…hopefully exposing your potential along the way.