Learn to Listen to Criticism Without Getting Defensive
Whether in family life, with friends or at work it’s a truth that getting criticism is part of interacting. No one wants to listen things about themselves that appear to insult the ego and sense of self. It’s easy to tighten up, lash back or shut down. The more difficult thing is to try and hear with an open mind.
Many times the motive of the criticizer isn’t pure and there may be some of their own topics involved in their commentaries to you. Nevertheless, it is able to still be helpful to listen something and get from it what may be true or partially true. It is easy to get caught up in the question of the motive of someone, however for your own growing the true issue is whether or not you are able to take advantage from their mentions even if there wasn’t a pure giving behind it.
If what someone tells is full of malice but still gives you something to consider then you are able to think about the percentage that may be true. If what someone states is untrue then their argument is something that can then be disregarded.
Most criticisms of people are a mixing of personal responses and truth. Pay attention at your body language while you respond Do you tighten your stomach and feel stress in your chest? Try to relax as you listen. It’s many times our egos that feel hurt but every people remembers a sharp criticism that turned their life around as well. Sometimes it’s the comments that sting that truly transform us.
Think of the other person as the one who is able to see parts of yourself you haven’t been able to see. Just as we can not our back, that’s true as well about a couple of our personality traits. It can be a giving to get criticism that assists you see outside your view if it goes to insights, in spite of what the reason behind it’s for the speaker who expressed the remark.