It’s hard to take time out of our harried lives to engage in activities from which we can learn, stretch and grow. The best ways to do so often involve taking risks, which can be scary, so another culprit kicks in: fear of criticism and its henchman, the human brain. It turns out that the way our brain is wired plays a part in our predisposition to not only feel but dwell on a fear of criticism. Studies show that even happy people are four times more likely to remember negative criticism than praise and that negative feedback is processed more thoroughly than positive feedback. The extent to which negative events impact us is so great that research from psychology professor Roy Baumeister shows it takes five positive events to make up for the psychological effect of just one negative event. So, our wiring works against us, creating another natural enemy to our willingness to invest in experiences that will help us grow (besides time). But that’s no cause for despair. Here are six ways to overcome a fear of criticism.