Creative Non Fiction 3 | CRITICISM– Always gets qualified as HATE!

“Who do you spend time with? Criticizers or encouragers? Surround yourself with those who believe in you. Your life is too important for anything less.” – Steve Goodier.

On a good note, today, when we try to highlight a mistake of someone for their betterment or to improve, the other person usually takes it as ‘CRITICISM’. Criticism is a psychological behaviour in which people judge something in their way or the prevailing conditions as per their point of view. Most of the time, the advice from the experience is also considered ‘criticism’.

The trouble with most of us is that we would somewhat be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. We are gifted, but most don’t even open the package! Almost all of us have been criticized for various reasons in our lives. ‘For not looking good, not doing the right things, or having an opinion or belief that is unacceptable or wrong. The first reaction is usually defensive. So, people frequently decide to defend themselves or get hysterical at criticism.

To criticize does not necessarily imply “to find faults”, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an object against positive or negative prejudice. Usually, criticism involves active disagreements, but it may only mean “taking sides”. It could just be an exploration of the different sides of an issue. Fighting is not necessarily involved. Criticism is often considered unpleasant, but that may not be the case.

At times, corrections made for someone to improve for their betterment are taken as criticism. They are falling back with backfire to take revenge on the worst notes! People here need to understand the difference between both to grow in life. Success comes hand in hand – with corrections and criticism. Failure is as much a part of life as success is! Undoubtedly, few are lucky to be blessed by someone holding them and showing them the path wherein they don’t face any rejections or failures. They should not become selfish and self-centred by forgetting those who showed them the way. Learn to be grateful. Please don’t turn your back on them. At the same time, if failure happens, learn to embrace it. Unless you won’t fall, getting up is impossible. Those criticizing you might have also failed at some point or other. Experiences out of their failures teach you to be careful and successful. So, it is almost essential to determine if the criticism is constructive or destructive.

Well-wishers make constructive criticism to help you improve at what you did. “You, for example, run faster” “Join the course to get a proper grip on your skill”. These are a few examples of constructive criticism. The tone tells you the truth without hurting you. Take it well, and improve and grow at work and as a person.

Contrarily, destructive criticism is wholly made to put you down and embarrass you. For Example: “You are just not meant for this”. While saying this, the person means no good. He has no intentions of getting better at what you did. If taken seriously, destructive criticism can harm you. Just leave it there. Don’t let it get within. Don’t take criticism of yourself. The critic meant to blame your act and not you. As you learn to differentiate between the two, you can take criticism more constructively and less personally. The complaint can/should be taken seriously to have growth in life.

Engage your brain to think critically instead of feeling betrayed or ashamed of your performance!