How well do you take criticism?

No-one likes to be contradicted or called into question. People often think criticism is just a way for others to ‘‘attack’’ or harm us.

In that case we mostly close ourselves off to others, and don’t listen to what they have to tell us. That’s too bad, because we often have much to learn.

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Generally speaking, we don’t like criticism because we have a bad opinion of it. We think it’s humiliating and negative. That’s not always the case, but we need to be able to differentiate between negative criticism and positive criticism, because criticism can also be constructive.

The word ‘‘criticize’’ is etymologically derived from the Latin criticus, which itself comes from the ancient Greek kritikos, meaning ‘‘capable of discernment or judgment.’’

So at its origin there was nothing pejorative about the word criticize, because being critical meant to examine something, an event or an idea, through the filter of reason. 

Every time you offer an opinion about something or someone, you place the event or the person under the microscope of your judgment, and criticize it (or them), either positively or negatively. In both cases, your opinion remains criticism.

Be open to criticism, in the etymological sense of the term. Don’t reject it out of hand, without first passing it through the screen of your own judgment.

Welcome it with an open mind, without resistance. Analyse it with your own sense of criticism, because you could learn something or gain something positive, like advice that turns out to be very useful to you later on. From now on, if criticism enables you to learn a lesson or improve yourself, take it into consideration.

I'll leave you with Malcolm X quote: "If you have no critics, you'll likely have no success."


Until next time