What is "Reproof"?

When a flatterer, who doesn't love us, comes into our life and tells us how smart, and how beautiful, and how intelligent, and wise we are, this is an easy path to embrace, because flattery is REALLY seductive. There will always be a temptation to embrace words that feed our ego, and our vanity, and our sinful nature. Our world is aggressively training us to be hypersensitive to criticism; to treat criticism, as if it were some sort of assault; as terms are being redefined at a quantum rate, as language that sounds high-minded, and virtuous and moral in practice, many times is harmful and damaging, to not only us, but the culture at large. Rejection of good counsel, and rejection of good criticism, is a tool from our ever-present enemy, to get us to embrace a natural inclination toward vanity. If we're already perfect, why do we need a savior? Why would we need to repent? Why would we need salvation? Criticism is never easy. Yet, criticism/correction is absolutely necessary to experience, if we intend to experience any type of growth or maturity. Proverbs 27:6 / Psalms 141:5