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Becoming Aware of Our Faults Is the First Step Toward Overcoming Them · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  It is difficult for an individual to see his own
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  shortcomings or faults. Many times we see them reflected
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  in others and we externalize them to such a degree that we
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  take exception to the other person, not recognizing that we
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  are seeing our own faults displayed in front of us.
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  If we have a confrontation with someone, they may point out
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  these faults, but we are generally less receptive to
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  hearing it when it comes from a perceived opponent or enemy.
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  People who are close to us, who are our friends and relatives,
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  are frequently reticent to discuss these things with us,
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  particularly if we have a habit of negative reaction or argument
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  which they have seen displayed in the past.
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  Thus, we remain usually cut off from learning the lesson and
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  moving beyond these shortcomings under most circumstances.
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  Thus, it is an enormous benefit to a seeker to have a person
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  whom we respect and honor for their wisdom take up the
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  opportunity to expose our faults for us.
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  This is a means of real progress and opens the door to new
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  insights and inner spiritual growth.
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  A verse from the Dhammapada. We should seek the company of
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  the sage who shows our faults as if he were showing us a hidden
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  treasure. The Mother notes quote in all
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  scriptures meant to help mankind to progress.
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  It is always said that you must be very grateful to those who
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  show you your faults, and so you must seek their company.
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  But the form used here is particularly felicitous.
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  If a fault is shown to you, it is as if a treasure were shown
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  to you. That is to say, each time that
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  you discover in yourself a fault, incapacity, lack of
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  understanding, weakness, insincerity, all that prevents
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  you from making a progress, it is as if you discovered a
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  wonderful treasure. Instead of growing sad and
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  telling yourself, oh, there is still another defect.
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  You should On the contrary, rejoice as if you had made a
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  wonderful acquisition because you have just caught hold of one
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  of those things that prevented you from progressing.
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  And once you have caught hold of it, pull it out.
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  For those who practice a yogic discipline, consider that the
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  moment you know that a thing should not be, you have the
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  power to remove it, discard it, destroy it.
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  To discover a fault is an acquisition.
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  It is as though a flood of light had come to replace the little
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  speck of obscurity which has just been driven out.
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  End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu and the Mother, Looking from
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  Within, Chapter 2. Looking at Oneself and Others,
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  page 37.