Pressure for Props

Sometimes we need to put ourselves out there for critique and hope the reviews come back positive. Why is it so scary? Why can't we put outselves out there and ignore the bad press?
It seems like people with only a certin sense of naievete can pull this feat off. Maybe because they aren't looking for praise, they're only being themselves, which happens to require putting themselves in the spotlight occassionally. Maybe we should all try to look around and say something nice about our friends, give them credit where credit is due, so that one day soon we don't put them in the uncomfortable postion of seeking out praise, or, even worse, being earnest about something they are excited about and getting shot down in return. I mean it, right now, call, e-mail, text, IM, turn to someone you love and give them props. Maybe we'd all feel a little better.