crItIcIsm

Take the I out of criticism.

Ugh. Hard. I KNOW!

Doesn't it feel like YOU are under personal attack when anyone criticizes anything YOU are doing?!

Comments about your hair, clothes, food choices, life decisions?!?!

Hmm...

Maybe...
Just maybe...

It isn't personal.

Maybe, it's just an idea.
From someone other than the CEO in your head.

I know! Trust this gal, as the words come out of the other persons mouth I'm already getting my back up to DEFEND.

But...

Do I want to be the kind of person that every time someone else has an idea about what I'm doing I think it's an ATTACK?!?

Nope.

So...then why do I have the Gutt reaction to DEFEND?!?

Got me thinkn...

Hmm...
I'm not ALWAYS ready to DEFEND.
It depends on WHO is giving the criticism.

Interesting.

If it's a stranger, I don't give it much weight.
If it's someone close to me, that I like, I take the criticism as a good IDEA.

If it's someone close to me, that I don't like at the moment ;),  ANY criticism is an invitation for a Samurai word/sword war!!!
I will slice you with my tongue.

Gosh!
Jeeze.
Calm down crazy person inside.

Hmm...

Maybe...
Just maybe...
It's...

Not a personal ATTACK.

Maybe, the person close to me, that I don't like at the moment ;), has an IDEA.

Bc...
usually it's NOT a personal attack so it does NOT have to be met with defensiveness.

How different would your exchanges be if you could take in someones idea about something you are doing & not become defensive?

Would be different, huh?

Today, Could you try it? Shift your view on criticism to leave the "I" out of it.
Take criticism objectively.

Step outside of yourself.

Appreciate the lesson.

Criticism isn't about your value as a person. Just bc somebody doesn't like one thing about your choices doesn't mean they HATE everything about you. Or worse not respect you.

You are loved :) 

Especially, by that someone close to you that you don't like at the moment ;)

Xoxo