117.I Was Called A B-Grader And I Didn't Take It Well (How to Receive Feedback)

Why do some comments stay with us for years while others roll right off our backs? In this episode, Joey Vaillancourt explores the hidden reason feedback feels so personal and why criticism often triggers something much deeper than the conversation itself. Using a personal story about receiving difficult workplace feedback, Joey breaks down the beliefs, emotions, and unconscious patterns that shape how we respond when someone points out a weakness, challenge, or blind spot. You'll learn how to receive feedback with a growth mindset, separate facts from stories, and use criticism as a tool for self-leadership rather than self-judgment. If you're a high performer who struggles with criticism, overthinking, or feeling not enough, this episode will give you a practical framework for responding differently.     TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge with one powerful question each day to help uncover the unconscious patterns driving stress and suffering. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca 🔗 Take the FREE Pressure Pattern Profile Quiz → https://joeyvaillancourt.com/pressure-pattern-quiz/   Topics Covered • Why feedback feels threatening • Constructive feedback vs personal identity • How to stop taking criticism personally • The beliefs driving emotional reactions • The Real Influence Ladder framework • Emotional regulation during difficult conversations • Receiving feedback with a growth mindset   Timestamps 00:00 The Feedback That Haunted Me for Years 01:05 Why Feedback Feels Personal 02:13 The Belief Behind Every Reaction 03:21 Feedback Is a Mirror, Not a Verdict 04:22 The "B Player" Story 06:38 Why Meaning Creates Suffering 09:02 What Feedback Meant Growing Up 10:16 Separating Facts From Stories 11:08 A Real-Life Example at Home 13:20 The Question That Changes Everything 15:03 The Real Influence Ladder 18:56 Feedback as Information, Not Identity 21:18 The Gift Hidden Inside Criticism   Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence https://joeyvaillancourt.com/the-30-day-challenge/ Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV. https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About: Joey Vaillancourt is the host of Real Influence — a show for high performers who can't turn it off. If you've built the life, hit the goals, and still feel the pressure — this is for you. Joey helps entrepreneurs and executives rewire the unconscious patterns driving the need to force, fix, and prove, so they can achieve more by leading with presence instead of pressure.