How To Learn To Accept Criticism? 6 Important Tips
Nobody likes to be criticized since we tend to perceive such comments in a negative way It is common for people to feel attacked or undervalued when faced with criticism and, consequently, react negatively. However, we can always learn something from constructive criticism and it can even help us in our personal and professional development.
According to the opinion of psychology experts, knowing how to accept criticism is a social skill that is not widespread among the population. Very few people are capable of taking comments as an impetus to improve instead of an attack against them. Ultimately, not knowing how to accept negative explanations hides something much deeper behind it related to a lack of self-confidence and an inferiority complex. If we are confident, we should not be offended and in fact, we should be able enough to assertively defend ourselves if we disagree.
Every time a criticism affects us a lot, it is important to stop in order to ask ourselves what our reaction is due to and what really bothers us about the comment received. Now, once I finish my introspection exercise, how do I learn to not let criticism affect me so much? In today’s article, we will answer this question using some advice from experts on the subject. Read on to discover how you can learn to better accept criticism and use it to your advantage to improve.
First of all, it is important to highlight that our negative reaction to criticism has a lot to do with the person who criticized us or the moment in which we received said comment. In this regard, psychologists comment that people close to us, such as a family member, do deserve our attention since, as a general rule, there is always some truth in their criticism.
Maybe we are not aware of our actions and it is okay to sometimes be informed by someone who is important in our life On the other hand, criticism made by people who do not really know us, or who are not very important to us, usually comes from a specific fact, where they generalize and, consequently, may not be so accurate.
However, we must learn to accept criticism from both people in our immediate environment and those who are not. We understand that it is not an easy task, especially with those comments that are not stated in an assertive manner but, rather, are based on feelings of rage or annoyance on the part of the other person. Therefore, below, we present some tips to learn how to deal with criticism appropriately:
1. Time to process
After receiving criticism, take the time you need to review carefully so you can understand. Stop and try not to act immediately. There is no expiration date, time is not the most important thing, but rather, what is crucial is to break down the criticism to understand if the person is right if you can get something positive from it, if you have been excessively offended, why it has bothered you so much, etc.
We place a lot of emphasis on the need to stop and reflect since, in general, we always tend to react impulsively, defending ourselves and justifying our behavior. Thinking coldly, taking a distance, will make you not regret what you said and allows you to see things more clearly.
The most tempting thing after criticism is to change, without thinking twice, what you have said or done. After all, it is the quickest and easiest way to end the uncomfortable feeling and turn the page as soon as possible. As we mentioned previously, this is not an appropriate attitude since it is important to reflect and try to understand where this comment comes from and if it is really justified.
Furthermore, for your own peace of mind, it is important not to keep anything inside and if you have any questions, contact the person who criticized you to ask for more explanations In fact, it is a way of showing involvement, interest and seriousness.
3. Stay with the positive part
The key is to pay attention to the criticism that could make us better people or professionals, and leave aside negative comments about our traits, skills or attitudes. We must focus on constructive criticism and not destructive criticism. When someone tells you something negative, as much as possible, you can try to make a change and see if you feel comfortable or if something improves.
On the contrary, if you realize that it doesn’t help you at all, thank the person for their comment and move on. Remember that you will not always receive useful criticism. The important thing is that you trust yourself, keep the positive parts and react assertively and respectfully to negative comments.
4. Listen to the person
The best thing is to listen to the person, understand their frustration, their point of view, ask for information and specify. Ultimately, only if we listen to the person who criticizes us can we learn from their criticism. To communicate assertively, a key factor is active listening We must pay full attention to the person’s comment (even if we do not agree) in order to respond respectfully. With this we avoid misunderstandings and feelings of anguish, anger or anger.
Nobody is perfect, we all have flaws, and we can all improve in many ways. We can take advantage of criticism as that little push we need to become the best version of ourselves. Change the concept you have about criticism. Instead of seeing them as an undervaluation, an attack or something to be ashamed of, do a 180 degree turn and start taking them as a help. Our attitude towards life can change how we see the world and of course, also criticism.
6. Discover why criticism affects us so much
If we often find that criticism generates great discomfort and aggressive reactions, it is advisable to value everything we like about ourselves and discover everything we would like to change about ourselves. It is very likely that at the root of the problem is low self-esteem, a lack of self-esteem, an inferiority complex, little security, etc If you have identified yourself, we recommend seeking professional help to be able to investigate the problem and thus acquire the necessary tools to learn to manage these situations and improve personal well-being.
