You don't have to accept self criticism entirely. I've seen comrades accept some elements of a criticism and reject others that they felt were unfair.

I made a self-criticism last year, but I generally felt that the criticism was valid. A comrade of mine accepted a far more serious criticism, and made a self-criticism on that.

Self-criticism isn't meant to be performative, it comes from a genuine desire to build and maintain the best practices within a revolutionary organization. To that end, some criticisms are valid and some are not.

Self-criticism is also not meant to be ostracizing - it is meant to honestly and openly address grievances within a party. It's meant not to distance members from one another but to reaffirm one's commitment to the revolutionary movement.

So I suppose to say all that is to admit there isn't an answer. Just like with personal, non-political criticism, some criticisms are valid and some aren't. That has to be decided in a particular context, not abstractly. But building a healthy culture of comradely criticism and self-criticism is essential to combatting liberalism or reactionary tendencies in the party, both in line and practice.

There are some who will use self-criticism to demand a performative self-flagellation, as there are always those with incorrect lines and practice. But from personal experience, submitting a self-criticism was a good feeling, because it meant that I could try to address my flaws and move on, rather than descend into cliquishness and division.

Building a healthy culture of criticism is difficult but essential.