It is rightly said that sticks and stones can break your bones, but if you’ve ever experienced being a victim of words that are capable of cutting through your confidence, you’ll know that words can hurt too. Welcome to the world of criticism.
It can be upsetting, shake your confidence, and make you feel frustrated, angry, or defensive. However, you have two options when responding, one that makes you feel shattered and the other that optimistically embraces criticism to make it a helpful part of the learning process.
That’s what brought Cityhypno to curate this blog today; there are healthy ways of dealing with criticism, in a way that can help you become a better version of yourself.
Here are some tips for dealing with criticism, so let’s get started!
1. Critic’s Intention
Being defensive is probably one of the first reactions that arise at the mere possibility of negative feedback. While it is natural to feel this way, you should remember that nobody’s perfect. It’s okay to contemplate your strengths and weaknesses.
The important part is to have a completely open mind because when you receive either feedback of any kind, you should be strong enough to approach the situation with understanding.
For instance, if someone is asking you to chew quietly, or go to the breakroom to eat, you might feel defensive at first.
Chances are, they are probably trying to deal with their distractions and self-improve.
2. Difference Between Constructive and Destructive
It is extremely important to understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. Think about whether the feedback is coming from someone who looks out for you often, are they directing the feedback in an area you want to improve in?
Some people tend to criticise others to feel better about themselves. When this happens, you’ll be easily able to recognise it because the criticism is baseless. For instance, a manager that criticises your stats without having calculated them.
A big red flag in this area is when someone backs up their criticism with “because I said so.”
Now for the reaction, you should respond depending on the intention of the criticism. It is necessary to consider the people in your life who want the best for you. Their criticism may come in the form of a dialogue, and if not, you should let them know that you prefer a different style of communication.
If they still talk with a judgmental tone, then that’s what they wanted to do – judge you. If they attempt even a bit to consider and respect your request, they care about you.
3. Avoid Exploding At Constructive Criticism
The constructive criticism may come across as mean-spirited, which might result in you giving in to your anger and saying something deliberately hurtful to shun them down.
We advise you against this. There are calm and alternative ways to request clarification, and most poorly-intended criticism will naturally break into pieces under scrutiny.
Take a deep breath and set your emotions aside to truly understand what’s best for you.
To Wrap Up…
While it is important to understand the difference and accept constructive criticism, it is more crucial to stay away from harmful and bad energy. Sometimes, the best decision that you can make for yourself is to step down and be the bigger person in the situation.
Concentrate on executing constructive criticism and have a more positive outlook, to become a better person for yourself and the people around you.
Book Your Appointment With Cityhypno for Hypnotherapy
No doubt, dealing with criticism starts and ends within you; your mental capacity can break or make you.
Cityhypno is here for you! With my hypnotherapy sessions, I can help you understand your triggers and work with you to curate healthy coping mechanisms for your overall wellbeing.
To book your appointment, visit my website today!
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