Tag Archives: Criticism

What would be possible if you released the urge to judge and criticize yourself and others?

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What would be possible if you released the urge to judge and criticize yourself and others?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Markus Winkler

How often do you catch yourself judging and being critical of yourself and others?

When you do notice, what is this inner voice saying?

How much trouble would you be in if these inner thoughts were vocalized and put on an external speaker? What if these criticisms were sent in a text or email and there was no way to take them back?

Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to keep some of these messages from being delivered even when we remain silent.

Facial expressions and body language clues give us away, resulting in others judging us in turn.

EXERCISE:

How would greater openness, kindness, and assuming positive intentions from others improve your world?

What would it look like if everyone made the same effort?

How can and will you take the lead in this area, starting today?

Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t

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“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

—Louise Hay, one of the founders of the self-help movement

Image from Amazon

How often do you follow the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

How are you at following this alternative rule: Do to yourself as you would have others do unto you?

Although most people are aware of their tendency to criticize and feel the sting of criticism when it comes their way, they seldom grasp the magnitude and impact when it comes from within.

EXERCISE:

If self-criticism is an issue impacting your life, consider reading or rereading Taming Your Gremlins by Rick Carson to soothe this savage beast.

Friday Review: Criticism

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Friday Review: Criticism

How critical are you? How do you react to criticism from others? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“Behind every criticism is a veiled wish.”

 

 

 

“Counting other people’s sins does not make you a saint.”

 

 

 

When you receive criticism take a moment to pause. Let this time be a kind of speed bump to slow down and “try on” what is being said.

 

 

 

When you receive criticism take a moment to pause

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When you receive criticism take a moment to pause. Let this time be a kind of speed bump to slow down and “try on” what is being said.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

No one likes to be criticized and judged. We like the way we are doing our lives and anyone who disapproves is clearly wrong!

Oops! What just happened? How can it be that we, too, may be just as critical of others, and they don’t care for it very much either?

What if instead of blocking this feedback and defending our positions, we simply paused to consider their perspective?

What would happen if we actually looked for the potential value in what was being said?

How might new ways of looking at ourselves create new opportunities for growth and self-improvement?

EXERCISE:

How would slowing down for the seemingly critical speed bumps offered by others make your travel through life smoother?

How might the ideas that are shared actually fit if you “try them on” for size?

If you still find them too tight, loose, itchy, or the wrong color, you can take them off.

Sometimes we forget that what is happening around us and within us is our real life.

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Sometimes we forget that what is happening around us and within us is our real life.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jon Tyson

My wife and I love to go to the movies. She frequently lets me know what is playing and gives me an overview to help us choose what to see. In our efforts to not waste our time, I often seek the guidance of review services such as Rotten Tomatoes to provide the perspectives of both the critics and the audience. We tend to trust the audience more given the fact that critics can be—you know—critical.

What if your life was a movie? What rating would you give it up to this point? How engaging are the people and events? In the case of our own lives, we are both critic and the audience. We are also the screenwriter, director, producer, and lead actor that can improve our rating as we go.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you break out the popcorn, candy, and beverage of your choice to more fully enjoy the reality of what’s showing in your life?

“Behind every criticism is a veiled wish.”

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“Behind every criticism is a veiled wish.”

—Esther Perel, Belgian psychotherapist

Image from Unsplash by ahi ismail

How do you feel when you are criticized?

How often is your immediate response to defend yourself or perhaps go on the offense and attack others?

Explore a few recent interactions in which you were criticized for something you did or didn’t do.

Dig deeper into the thoughts and emotions of that person to see if there was a hidden desire or veiled wish below their barbed message. What did they secretly want that was not communicated in an acceptable way?

How might you shift your perspective and translate the harshness of their words into simple requests that would have a higher probability of acceptance?

EXERCISE:

A few books that can help your relationship skills are Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, Crucial Conversations, and Crucial Confrontations.

Please send an email to barry@dempcoaching.com or reply to this post with your email address and I will be pleased to send you a copy of my one page Communication Toolbox.

“Counting other people’s sins does not make you a saint.”

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“Counting other people’s sins does not make you a saint.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Tanner Mardis

What does it mean to live a good and meaningful life?
How important is it for you to be kind, thoughtful, generous, and of service?
Where do you see yourself on the saint-to-sinner spectrum of human behavior?

Many of us look at life and others with a critical eye. We often make comparisons to justify our predominate good-deed-doing status, and give ourselves pretty good marks on most days.

How many “brownie points” it takes to get into Heaven, no one knows. Keeping score of other’s sins is unlikely to increase your chances. Finding fault may actually be the type of sin we all should avoid.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you more fully express your values through virtuous actions?
Where and how can you more fully seek and find the saintly efforts within your personal and professional communities?

Friday Review: Criticism

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FRIDAY REVIEW: CRITICISM

How critical are you? How do you react to criticism from others? Here are a few criticism-related posts you may have missed.

 

“Praise does wonders for our sense of hearing.”

 

 

 

 

“If criticism is needed, do it tactfully. Don’t use a sledgehammer when a fly swatter will do the job.”

 

 

 

 

“Dogs bark at those they do not know.”

 

 

 

 

 

“We all have our limitations, but when we listen to our critics, we also have theirs.”

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“We all have our limitations, but when we listen to our critics, we also have theirs.”

—Robert Brault, American freelance writer

Image from Unsplash by SEP

One of the very first personal development programs I attended in my early twenties was Dr. Wayne Dyer’s How to Be A No-Limit Person.

I had recently graduated from college, was just married and entering the working world with great anticipation and excitement. Dyer’s message of being a no-limit person was just the boost I needed to bring my full energy, enthusiasm, and drive to my efforts.

Along the way, I ran into numerous professional and personal speed bumps.

Doubts and discouragement definitely caused me to not shoot as often or as high as before.

Unfortunately, I also began listening to others who put a few more mental barriers in my way, based on their own self-imposed limitations and biases.

EXERCISE:

Where and on what personal or professional matter are you being limited by your own views or the views of others?

What bold and courageous actions can and will you take to be the no-limit person you want to be?

Dogs bark at those they do not know

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“Dogs bark at those they do not know.”

—Samuel Daniel, 17th Century English Poet

Image of a barking dog

Image from Flickr by Toshihiro Gamo

Can you imagine people barking like dogs at people they don’t know?

In many ways, we do just that, except our bark is often silent, much like a dog whistle is to we humans.

This inner bark is often our judgement, criticism, and prejudice, showing that we are rarely open or receptive to another’s point of view, perspectives, or beliefs.

Take a look at the communities within your personal and professional worlds. What, overall, is the cost of the silent and not so silent “barking”?

Peace and a sense of unified community is hard to find, even if all signs point to things being fine on the surface.

EXERCISE:

Where would acknowledging and working on your own judgmental and critical tendencies support your cooperative and collaborative nature with those you’ve barked at in the past?