Criticism can hurt. It stings like the snap from a rubber band. Whether it’s a surprise or you see it coming, the snap gets your attention.
Setting up intentional filters for dealing with criticism is a smart move, otherwise you’re vulnerable to absorb useless judgments and reject useful feedback.
We can talk strategies, tactics, and techniques (I offer my favorite Criticism Filtering Strategy here), but if you don’t address your foundation, no strategy will save you from the damage your mindset creates.
Criticism cuts deep when you want to be seen a certain way. A critical comment can cripple you when you attach part of your identity to someone’s opinion.
If your sense of worth is affected by people’s perceptions of you, then their opinions have the potential to control you. That’s why even massive success is often accompanied by a sharp decline and sometimes a tragic end — whoever allows praise to make them, allows criticism to break them.
That’s why you see major insecurity, even — especially — among the massively successful. Whoever allows praise to make them, allows criticism to break them.
You get to choose your response. Even if you never got to choose your circumstance.
Embrace the chase. Do the work.
PS - If you want my Criticism Filtering Strategy with action tips for processing the four kinds of criticism, get it here. It’s a great document to keep handy and share with your team or your family.
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