The Word for Writers

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The Benefits of Criticism.

Every writer, poet, artist, painter, craftsman, politician, clergyman, and indeed almost everybody finds criticism a bit hard to swallow and often takes them more personal than they ought to. I guess it's only human nature to be offended when your efforts are not appreciated or wrongly minimised or misconceived.

Criticism however, can be harnessed positively to our advantage if we are wise and dispassionate enough to handle them. Most already know how to handle objective criticisms - those offered constructively and driven by good intentions and motives and presented in a positive way.

The most difficult criticisms to endure are the non objective ones. These are the ones driven by wrong motives and very negative emotions and often intended to demoralise(rather than inspire) and presented in a negative way.

Without dwelling much on the reasons behind such criticisms, the types of persons that engage therein or the real motives and intentions of such critics, I will instead like to discuss how we can make the most of a scathing, mean and misguided remark disquised as a 'harmless' criticism.

I have come to realise that if we dispassionately scrutinise these rantings and ramblings coated as criticism, we will observe a 'hidden' compliment. Compliments inspire and motivate us and help us to do more and better, so I suggest you take your time to look for a compliment in the midst of the vitriolic as there is always a compliment somewhere and somehow. It might be painstaking and time consuming but trust me it's worth every effort.

If the remarks seem to demean and put you down; it means you are not presently down and obviously higher than the critic. Only someone lower than you will try to bring you down. Compliment?
If the remarks seem a 'dig' at your creative effort and ability; it suggests you must've created something unique and worthy otherwise why would they bother? No one wastes their time on anything that is of no value or consequence. Compliment?
If the remarks seem aimed at discouraging you; it means they dread your potentials and possible future achievements. If they didn't believe in your abilities and potentials they wouldn't bother with you. Compliment?
If the remarks ignore your productivity and focuses on your personality; it means they couldn't fault your handiwork. Compliment?
If they focus solely on a minor part of your work while ignoring the major others; it means they were only looking for faults(real or assumed) and so are wrongly driven. They simply have 'endorsed' the majority of your work as fault free. Compliment?
If they descend so low to name-calling, and false accusations; they are speaking about themselves. Remember it's only a thief that is always the first to call the other a thief. Compliment?
If the remark is a subtle or direct threat; they are scared and are trying to intimidate you into submission or withdrawal. Compliment?

And the list goes on...

When you learn the wisdom of looking for the obscure compliments in non objective criticisms you would become thankful to the critic.

Don't just dismiss them because they are misguided and don't jump into defending yourself(they don't deserve a response from you) , instead take a closer look at the vitriolic and you'll find loads of encouraging compliments.

Win : Win for you all the way all the time.

So I'll say enjoy criticism.

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