How do you know when difficult feedback is a growth opportunity vs. a sign the career isn’t the right fit?

I have been working in environmental consulting for several years. I have been trusted with and continue to request more responsibilities as I move up in my career. Recently, I was assigned to lead a field program in a more challenging field setting. The work itself was within my experience, but the setting and logistics were more unfamiliar than previous projects I’ve done. I communicated to my manager that I was feeling overwhelmed and hoped for additional support. I've always had a good relationship with my manager, so I felt okay in being honest about how I was feeling.

I was able to complete my portion of the field program, but I was asked to extend and take over a colleague's shift. I declined because I was genuinely fatigued after and did not feel I could continue performing at my best. I have historically been very flexible with fieldwork, so recognizing and communicating that I was at my limit was difficult. Afterwards, my manager provided formal feedback that they had concerns about my ability to independently lead field programs. They also raised concerns about my willingness to support the team because I declined to extend my field shift.

What has been difficult is that I feel like one situation is now defining my abilities. I have never received formal feedback like this, and it has really shaken my confidence. I take a lot of pride in my work, so I’m questioning whether I can/should continue not only at this company, but in environmental consulting as a whole.

* Have other successful biologists received feedback like this? * Is this a sign that consulting/remote fieldwork may not be the right fit for me? * How do you know when to adapt and grow versus when to pursue a different type of environmental career?

I’d really appreciate perspectives from people who have been through similar moments in their careers.