Criticism

Do you fear judgement? Many of us do. Many of us will avoid any form of judgement from others. It's a natural tendency. I've seen several people when confronted about something they've done wrong, they will rebuttal it with complete denial. Criticism isn't easy. It's not easy to give and it's not easy to receive. Judgement is easy to give. But what do all of these have to do with one another?

Giving criticism appropriately takes practice. It should be done privately. I like the phrase, "praise publicly and correct privately." It should come from good intentions. If your intention is anything other than wanting the person to be better for themselves, then you are judging harshly, and not criticizing. You should seek to lift those up around you and not tear them down.

Receiving criticism also takes practice. Never reflect, always receive. Thank the person for giving you the chance to become better. Even if you disagree, believe there is truth in what is said and try to find the truth. By negating it, you will miss any opportunity to learn and grow. By mastering this, you can eventually learn to grow from harsh judgements and insults. You will be able to hear someone call you ugly and learn that you probably could hit the gym a little more and have better personal hygiene. You will be able to hear someone call you stupid and learn that you probably could read some more books and write your ideas down. There is no wrong time to take criticism, for it is coming at you all the time.