How do you handle criticisms when they are displayed before you with different intensities, ranging from mild assertions to stinging words thrown straight in your face?
Stop Being Defensive and Start Examining Yourself
In all cases, criticism usually arises out of something that you did or didn’t do. The most difficult task is to separate the facts from the emotions. The next step is to objectively look at the results and ask how you played a part of it. For example, if you were criticised for making bad decisions that caused poor results, examine how you made it happened. This is because if you were to instantly be defensive, self evaluation will not occur at all.
A cognitive psychological tool called Johari window also states that everyone has a blind spot. This represents information that a person is not aware about themselves but others are aware of it. Therefore, it is imperative to listen what the criticism is and find out whether there is any truth in that statement.
Change Yourself
Change does not usually happen at a cognitive level but usually happens at an emotional level. For example, even if you are overweight and know that you have to lose weight, you might not be doing anything significant about it. This is the cognitive level. However, when things happen at an emotional level, the results might be longer lasting.
So, ask yourself the tough question what do you need to change? By not making a decision is also making a decision not to do anything. Change only comes in when you demonstrate the resolve and absolute desire to make it happen (and of course, take MASSIVE ACTION on it).
It is also good to thing about the good outcomes from the positive change in your life. Know that everything comes with a cost, even with change. So, discipline and intense resolution is required to make the change.
Understand that Criticism is inevitable
Criticism; whether it is given with true intentions or destructive in nature, are always inevitable.
Here are some questions to determine if criticism is helpful:
Who said it? Sometimes harsh words from a wise man are better than the loving kisses of fools.
What was the spirit behind it? Is it to help or tear me down?\
What is the truth? I need to determine if what was true and how I should address it.
Let go and move on
What happens when you feel that after much self examination, there is really nothing wrong with yourself? There are people who will constantly grew angry and frustrated because of what other people said to them. They are not able to let go and move on in their lives.
Secure people can see that they are fallible and know what their weaknesses are. The good thing is that they make a conscious decision not to get bonded by the negativity and move ahead fresh. If you keep harping about the past, you will never be able to take on the new possibilities in your life.
John Maxwell in an article shares that “while we are growing up, a lot of us spend a good deal of time worrying about what the world thinks of us. By the time we reach 60, we realize the world wasn’t paying much attention.”
Conclusion:
Some of the best people that entered into your life were your critics, not friends. Treat criticisms with a certain respect, learn from it and then move on in your life
