If you want to improve, you need really good feedback. But i would also say there are a lot of feedback that aren't painful at all. I think it is a universal paradox that we know it's good for us and we know that it's painful. If people are criticizing you on a dimension that is either dogmatic or personal or unbalanced, which you often encounter, then you have to learn to sort out the different categories of criticism. The heap that has critical stuff that's useful is really small.
Also: is it better to send a congratulatory note to someone who deserves it or a condolence note to someone who needs it?