Why do we ignore or get cross when someone tries to say something constructive that may help us? If you’re the type of person that doesn’t take to criticism easily, whether it’s constructive or not, you’ll probably struggle with this.
It stands to reason that we will learn more from other people’s suggestions, than we may initially know ourselves. Not everyone will know or manage to work things out the first time around. A different perspective always helps and as much as we would like to think we know everything, we don’t.
We never stop learning, bringing in new understandings. What we could do better with though, is learning how to let other people into our lives. Let them tell us things without us taking offence, because we either don’t like what they say, or we don’t agree.
That’s probably a good first lesson. A lesson that will open the door to even more understanding and knowledge that we didn't have before.
It can be difficult to accept constructive criticism, because we usually take it personally.
If the constructive criticism comes from someone that cares for us, we should realize that they only want to help us. Like you say we might get a different perspective on how to deal with an issue.
Thanks Maria. I think if we put that concept in the forefront of our minds, I am sure more of us would be open to other people's constructive criticism, when it comes to our actions or issues.
It's always hard though not to take things personally in the heat of the moment. A human failing I feel.
A lot of people dislike constructive criticism and just see it as negative and personally as Maria says.
It can take a while for us to mature into the person who can see and accept that there is nothing wrong with criticism if it is intended to be helpful, but a lot of criticism has a hidden agenda and can be intended to be hurtful.
It's all about perception. One person's faults and mistakes may not necessarily register as that with everyone. If it is intended to be negative, we can all do without that sot of criticism.
We must know our customers. If criticism is coming from a place of care from a person who cares about us, the way they talk and what they say should only be seen as coming from a place of care.
If on the other hand the person criticising (constructive or not) is always angry and bitter about their lives, you'll know because it will become obvious through their tone. Having been in that angry place as a child I know how it works, particularly when we're hurting ourselves.
Maturity as you say will help us understand how to deal with criticism of both kinds.