Receiving Criticism is An Inescapable Part of Life that Everyone Faces
As humans, and especially as moms, we don’t always get it right. From my own experience, I have had many challenges being on the receiving end of criticism. I always take it personally and get offended. I feel attacked and often get defensive. A recent conversation sparked this article topic today. I wanted to get to the bottom of what triggers me to react this way. Through my research, I found that it’s important to know how to deal with criticism, so that it does not get the best of you and leave you feeling defeated.
Here are 5 Strategies to Negate the Effects of Being on the Receiving End of a Negative Comment
1. Listen Thoughtfully to the Criticism
Criticism is not always the worst thing that can happen to you. Being able to take in criticism and use it as a way of self-improvement is a necessary skill for any mompreneur.
We are all human, and it’s inevitable that we will not like everything that we hear about ourselves. A good mompreneur should have the ability to take criticism from others and use it as a way of improving their own life and work. Learning how to listen through criticism is crucial. By understanding how criticism works, we can learn to take what’s useful and discard the rest.
2. Find The Source of the Criticism
There are many ways to go about finding the source of the criticism. If it’s coming from online sources, one way is to look at your public social media profiles and see if you have posted anything that may offend someone. Another way is to check your past posts on social media platforms, blogs, messages and articles for anything that might have caused a reaction or negative feedback.
If the criticism is coming from a close friend, relative or spouse, the problem is not solely the existence of criticism. Criticism is needed to ensure quality. But, if it’s coming from within the home constantly, it becomes a problem. Sometimes, you can become so used to the criticism that you have challenges in accepting praise. Whatever the source, here’s what you can do in the next step.
3. Acknowledge Your Imperfection – We All Make Mistakes
Everybody makes mistakes. And it’s okay. The idea that mistakes are bad is rooted in our fear of imperfection and shame for being less than perfect. Through therapy, I have found the root of why it’s difficult for me to accept criticism. Trauma and events from my childhood have caused me to build a wall of perfection, and I know so many other moms who experience the same. Acknowledge your imperfection – we all make mistakes and it’s okay. That may sound easy to do, but trust me, taking the time to work on this area of your life is so worth it.
4. Take Responsibility For Your Actions & Decline Responsibility for Unavoidable Circumstances
To me, it is a given that you should take responsibility for your actions. I believe one of the main reasons we don’t accept responsibility is because we are afraid of the consequences. It also could be that we just don’t care about what happens as long as it doesn’t affect us personally. The issue of responsibility in today’s society is an issue that has been addressed throughout history. The question is whether or not society should accept responsibility for unavoidable circumstances. We are often quick to blame others for their circumstances, and we can be quick to give up when we think we have no control. But there are many ways that we can make our voice heard. Our actions have an impact and our words matter. You can be the change you want to see.
5. Remember That Accepting Criticism a Struggle We All Share
Sometimes, when we are so focused on one pursuit, it is hard to see the bigger picture. We feel like we are right and that everyone who disagrees with us is wrong. It can be frustrating to know that not everyone around you will have the same opinion as you, or agree with your actions. But remember that accepting criticism is a struggle that we all share.
Everyone has their own point of view and experience in life. We should not expect others to have the same opinions as us because they may have had a different upbringing or have different goals in life than you do. We should learn to accept opinions from others and even use their critique to improve ourselves – after all, critiquing yourself is just as important as being criticized by others.
I want to leave you with these two points.
Be open-minded: Listen to what the other person has to say without getting defensive. It’s important that you are aware of your mistakes and flaws, so that you can work on improving them in order to become a better person or a successful professional.
Don’t take it personally: If someone is criticizing your work, it means they are trying their best in order for you to improve; this is them showing care and concern for your well-being. They want the best for you and they want you to succeed.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this topic. Leave a comment below and let’s continue the conversation.
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