Do we believe our ideas are not worth expressing? Do we believe ourselves unworthy of recognition, praise?
It's time we unhooked ourselves from our fears. It's time we expressed our ideas loudly and clearly. It's time we sent out into the universe our wishes and desires. It's time we asked for its help. Only then can we eliminate the fear of criticism.
Criticism isn't meant to hurt us; it's meant to push us to do our best possible work. Our inner judge patrols the borders of our comfort zone, making sure we don't venture forth out of that zone. It doesn't want us to take the next big step, to change our possibilities into realities. But must we let it make decisions for us? We must be willing to venture out far beyond the border of comfort. We must not be afraid to act recklessly, because life isn't about playing it safe. It's about placing bets and hoping to win.
Our inner critic won't completely go away. Its mission is to fill our heads with mantras of "you're not good enough" and "this isn't right for you," and the best way to diminish its power of persuasion is to play big and dangerously.
The inner critic does not want to harm us; it wants us to live comfortably. This idea of comfort is what holds us back. We are afraid to explore a world of possibilities, because we've convinced ourselves we will never survive the jungle of madness. Ultimately, this is what our inner critic wants: to force us into submission.
It tells us that, if we don't listen to it, we will only make fool of ourselves and fail. If we don't peel back the many layers of comfort, we will never break the cycle of "I'm not good enough."
We are good enough, and even if we're not, we will be. Reaching a level of good enough takes patience and hard work. Are we willing to spend years upon years perfecting our craft? Creating beauty out of fear? Art out of chaos? We won't know unless we make an effort to ignore our inner critic and set out to do what we were meant to do.
Women are so damn afraid of criticism, but we ought not take criticism personally. Criticism reveals useful information about the person giving it, not about ourselves.
As a matter of fact, it's not such a bad idea to think of criticism as useful feedback to improve a defective aspect of our work. Without feedback, we won't be able to grow into our true selves. Let's keep in mind that feedback is not meant to hurt us, but to challenge us to produce high-quality work.
Feedback is another way of saying: you need to transform your diamond in the rough into an exquisite piece of jewelry.
Polish your diamond and the result will be gratifying. I promise.
Our inner critic won't completely go away. Its mission is to fill our heads with mantras of "you're not good enough" and "this isn't right for you," and the best way to diminish its power of persuasion is to play big and dangerously.
The inner critic does not want to harm us; it wants us to live comfortably. This idea of comfort is what holds us back. We are afraid to explore a world of possibilities, because we've convinced ourselves we will never survive the jungle of madness. Ultimately, this is what our inner critic wants: to force us into submission.
It tells us that, if we don't listen to it, we will only make fool of ourselves and fail. If we don't peel back the many layers of comfort, we will never break the cycle of "I'm not good enough."
We are good enough, and even if we're not, we will be. Reaching a level of good enough takes patience and hard work. Are we willing to spend years upon years perfecting our craft? Creating beauty out of fear? Art out of chaos? We won't know unless we make an effort to ignore our inner critic and set out to do what we were meant to do.
Women are so damn afraid of criticism, but we ought not take criticism personally. Criticism reveals useful information about the person giving it, not about ourselves.
As a matter of fact, it's not such a bad idea to think of criticism as useful feedback to improve a defective aspect of our work. Without feedback, we won't be able to grow into our true selves. Let's keep in mind that feedback is not meant to hurt us, but to challenge us to produce high-quality work.
Feedback is another way of saying: you need to transform your diamond in the rough into an exquisite piece of jewelry.
Polish your diamond and the result will be gratifying. I promise.
I've learned the most about myself from my worst critics. Did not mean they became my friends or that I appreciated them for it, because their intent was anything but beneficent; but they did make me examine myself most and face my faults.
ReplyDeleteFear is good though. I would not want to live in a world completely devoid of things to be feared. I fear God, in a respect-awe sort of way, not from faith, but experience... Boggles the mind like standing on a beach with an enormous tidal wave coming at you, or being an ant in the way of the steamroller.
Anyway, some fear is good... Some is really really bad. Fear of betrayal. Fear of loss and abandonment, rejection... Such things haunted me for years, until I realized I like being alone.