How to Handle Criticism

The most feared part of your life is usually to get critiqued. No o e likes to be criticized by family or friends. To stand there and hear someone else criticize about you, say bad things about is not just humiliating but a very undermining experience which can leave you scarred for the rest of your life. Critiquing can never be fun or a happy experience although healthy criticism, sometimes, can prove positive. In life, you will encounter lot of people. You need to sift through the bad and mean criticism and probably hear only the constructive and the positive ones.
There is never an easy answer on how to handle criticism or any magic potion telling you how to go through those few minutes when someone is attacking you without you been scared. But few of these tips will surely help:
• Really listen to the criticism
Listen to the person who is criticizing you. Probably, he has some good intentions and trying to correct you. You might have floundered somewhere and that person is trying to correct you for your own good. Instead of attacking back the person who is criticizing you, listen to him and avoid hostility between you both. If you think you have scope for improvement, might as well improve! But if you think other person is only saying mean and bad things, hear him out patiently and forget about him.
• Do not reply immediately
It is easy to be riled up and get frustrated if someone is criticizing you. Listen to him first and then react! Do not reply immediately without giving it a proper hearing.
• Remember criticism is not always about you
Remember if someone is criticizing you, it is usually not for you or about you. The person who is criticizing has his own personal problems and is trying to take them out on you! People usually tend to lash out on others and take their frustration out on others when they have had a frustrating or a bad day. Hence, another person becomes a victim.
• Reply or let go
Decide whether the criticism is good or bad. Decide where it is coming from. Decide whether it is healthy or downright mean. If it is healthy, give it some thoughts and try improvising. If not, tell the person in polite way to back off!
Criticism can go a long way in making or breaking a person. as a person, you need to be able to judge what is good and bad for you and take decision accordingly!