You have a choice how you handle criticism, how to handle it when people negatively comment or give their opinion about your life/work/family/website/blog/social media stream. You have a choice, either to possibly learn something from it and better your life/work/family/website/blog/social media stream, or get offended. Obviously, I recommend the former.
You have a choice how to handle criticism. But, in truth, if you no longer see it as criticism there’s nothing to handle because you will then see people’s comments as helpful advice rather than criticism; and from this you will rise, better your life and use everything as a way to offer a better service to your people, or be a better person.
This is the choice: See and be grateful for the tidbits, advice, wisdom, other perspectives or views from others. Or shut yourself off from advice or insights that may greatly improve your life.
Personally, I think many people overact when it comes to the subject of criticism. They go straight to the place of feeling attacked, misunderstood or judged by others. They feel the person criticizing them is trying to hurt them. But I don’t think most people are coming from this space when they speak out. I think most people are simply offering their point of view.
When I receive criticism I’m mostly grateful. I’m being given the opportunity to see something through someone else’s eyes. Let’s be clear, though – of course, I too, receive emails and social media posts with people being deliberately offensive or using inappropriate language, obviously not wanting an open and honest dialogue with me but wanting to attack and offend. (And yes, there are times when I get offended and need to “sit with it” to get over it. And, yes, in the past I’ve taken things too personally and have overacted and hurt others. So, I’m no angel. I’m a work in progress). But, in my experience, the people that are genuine “haters”, are very few and far between. I don’t think most people are trying to hurt when they criticize. I think they are trying to express their feelings and educate. But we are quick to label them as haters.
But perhaps I have this perspective because I have super nice people in my world. Amazing, open-hearted, free and strong thinking men and women in my school and in my online space. Perhaps I’m just “having it good”… But I’d like to think it’s more than this. That I have it good because of the way I choose to respond to people’s criticisms. I listen. I take note. I seek to understand. I’m grateful. Although we can’t always respond to everyone, we try our best.
In my business, my team and I do our darndest to “keep our ears to the ground”. We want to hear what our school of the modern mystic community think, want and feel. We want to know if my message and the teachings are clear. If I’m being unclear or inconsistent, I want them to call me out on it. I want to know how I can improve. I want to be better; serve them better, offer them better and better…
I want to serve to the very best of my abilities.
That’s why we take the time to read emails and respond, to open up a dialogue, to help them, to be open and available to people saying their mind and speaking from the heart. Sometimes this is a very lengthy process that takes up a lot of our time, and sometimes we don’t reach an agreement; we agree to disagree. But in almost all cases we’ve created connection and harmony, and the flow on from this in peace, prosperity, goodwill and love. Not only for me and my employees, but also for my modern mystic community.
Try, as the amazing rapper and singer, Missy Elliott, says, “… to flip it, and reverse it” when criticism is flung your way. Seek to understand the other person and don’t view it as an attack. And then watch how you rise and how your life and business soar.
with love,
Belinda
