When you receive criticism, you need a reliable method to move yourself from how you initially feel to clear thinking and good judgment. That’s how you discover what is true and useful and valuable, and what is not.
In the Daily Discipline Community, members shared that they connect this week’s discussion on criticism with last week’s lessons on Denotation vs. Connotation. Criticism rarely starts as a neutral activity in anyone’s mind. People tend not to think of criticism literally. They attached a negative connotation to it.
Criticism’s connotation comes pre-loaded with emotional baggage (doubt, anxiety, anger, defensiveness, resistance) before you even hear what the criticism is and whether it’s deserved.
You will always feel something when you get criticized. Everyone does. But if you hold a negative connotation, you’re inserting your own pre-determined negative feelings into it. Feelings that don’t come from the criticism, but from you.
Remember: you are in charge, not your feelings.
The meaning you give to criticism matters. Because the meaning you give shapes how you respond before you even hear the criticism itself.
Before you can build the bridge to clear thinking and good judgment, you must know where you’re starting from. So think about it.
And come back tomorrow to learn how to build the bridge.
Event + Response = Outcome. Do the work.
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