When
we hear others being critical of something we’ve done, we tend to believe that
they are being critical of ‘us’ rather than our actions. This may be because
we’ve been criticised in an unhelpful way in the past, which resulted in feeling
blamed, rejected or unwanted. However, very often the person offering criticism
is intending the criticism to be helpful to us – pointing out the affect of our
actions. If we were able to accept that criticism in the spirit in which it was
intended, then we could make positive helpful changes.
Whereas, if we were able to consider the criticism in a
different way, then maybe something positive could come out of it. When you
receive criticism, consider whether the criticism is:
True
Not true
Partly true
Assertive
Response to Criticism
Criticism is
true
Criticism is
not true
Criticism is
partly true
Agree
Disagree
Partly agree
Yes, I can be like that sometimes. How has that affected you? What would
have been a more helpful way of doing things? I’m sorry if it upset you.
I
disagree, I don’t think that’s right, and I feel a bit upset that you can
say that. Can you explain what you mean a bit more?
I
accept that I didn’t do that well. I made a mistake, but I disagree with
your comments about me personally. Can you explain what you mean a bit
more?
