In my personal opinion, you cannot have personal growth if you are unable to accept and respect another's viewpoint, keeping an open mind to change.

We all have an established belief system within ourselves, based on our environment, the way we were raised, and our own personal experiences. What we read and absorb, commit to memory, what creates strong feelings in us.

Unfortunately, the need to be right is part of human nature. As a result we refuse to listen and then actually hear and examine anything that is contrary to our own values or beliefs. We react with anger or hostility, or simply ignore new information, because we refuse to alter our perception.

This causes us to get stuck, to stagnate in our own egos. We can be critical of another's opinion, but become irate when our own is questioned.

Basically, it's being open minded, being able to defend your value system while changing it and growing as you learn more about the world around you and the people in it, that is necessary to personal growth.