Somebody who loves you will eventually tell you something you don't want to hear. A business partner points out the hole in the plan you've been avoiding. A friend says the relationship you keep defending sounds exhausting to be around. An editor circles the paragraph you were proudest of and writes one word: cut. None of these people are trying to hurt you. They are doing the harder, less rewarding work of telling you the truth instead of the compliment you were fishing for.