How you can turn criticism into confidence & improve your life
When people often criticize you, turning criticism into confidence can be difficult. However, it’s important to be able to take criticism well because hearing how we can improve is a way to grow. Believe it or not, constructive criticism can make us more confident.
There are two types of criticism: constructive criticism and destructive criticism. Constructive criticism is positive feedback or negative feedback communicated in a gentle, respectful way. It focuses on specific behaviors or actions rather than personal attributes, which makes the advice easier to digest and act upon.
On the other hand, destructive criticism is exclusively negative and is presented in a hateful or harmful way. It can make us feel defensive or uncertain, and it can prevent us from becoming the best versions of ourselves.
When we face constructive criticism, we have the opportunity to learn new things and develop our skills. When we experience destructive criticism, it’s important that we don’t let it bother us. We can still use destructive criticism to help us grow as long as we don’t let the negativity stop us from learning and pursuing our passions.
When you face destructive criticism, it’s easy to want to give up because you don’t feel like you’re succeeding. This feedback can hurt our self-esteem, but it’s very important to respond positively rather than react defensively to it. Instead, change your thoughts to be more positive — remember why you love doing the same activities that someone else criticized. Others’ thoughts and feelings about your hobbies, interests, or work don’t matter — only yours do.
How to Develop a Resilient Mindset
To maintain a positive mindset, you should work to develop resilience. It’s also important to embrace feedback and use it for personal development. When you view criticism as an opportunity rather than as a setback, you can shift your views and use feedback as a self-improvement tool.
A resilient mindset can also help you practice self-compassion. After all, no one’s perfect, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
As someone with a learning disability, I sometimes struggle with self-compassion because I feel like others doubt my abilities. But when I notice myself thinking negatively of my skills, I think of everything that I’ve accomplished. I graduated high school, I’m about to graduate college, and also published a book. To outweigh others’ negative comments, think of your successes. You might feel much more confident in yourself.
How to Turn Criticism Into Positive Action
Transforming negative feedback into positive action starts with a conscious effort to analyze objectively what others tell you about yourself. Try to break down the feedback into specific points. This can allow you to identify the actions that you need to take to improve. This strategy can help both in your professional and personal lives without you feeling like others are judging you.
After you identify specific areas for improvement, set realistic, specific goals with milestones to meet. Your resilient attitude will help you stay positive as you work to meet your goals.
Why You Should Surround Yourself With Encouragement
Your environment can play a significant role in how you handle criticism. Try to find people who uplift you and provide constructive feedback. When your friends and family give you constructive words, you’ll feel more secure in your abilities and more open to receiving negativity without feeling like others are attacking you.
If you want to improve your skills, know the difference between constructive and destructive criticism and learn to use feedback as a means for growth. You’ll face both types of criticism, but when you surround yourself with people who build you up instead of tearing you down, you’ll become the best, happiest version of yourself.