Criticism isn’t always right. It’s always data about how you landed.

Someone can be wrong about you and still be reporting something real, namely their experience of you. Those are two separate questions, and arguing the first often means ignoring the second. If several people call you dismissive, the accuracy is debatable while the effect is not. You can disagree with the judgment and still use the reading.

Next time a criticism feels unfair, split it in two: what they claim about you, and what they felt. Accept the second without a fight and let the first stay open. If the same effect shows up with different people, treat it as something to adjust rather than defend.