Let’s be honest, no one likes being criticized; even if you don’t consider yourself to be an egotistical person, you do not appreciate it when people give you critical remarks.
While some people become aggressive or defensive when criticized, others internalize it, and start to hate themselves in the process.
Both these coping mechanisms are bad, and have a grave impact on our mental health, meriting then help from the Best Psychologist in Karachi.
Not knowing how to handle criticism, something that all of us will face or have faced already can be extremely damaging. Hence, all of us need to know how to handle criticism in a healthy fashion.
Don’t let your emotions rule you
It may be a reflex of yours to become angry or very sad in the face of criticism. However, if you let your emotions overpower you, then you will most likely not fare well. You might either say or do something you regret, disturb your mental peace, or not utilize the mistake as a learning opportunity.
So, in the face of critique, remain calm. Be patient. Take a few deep breaths. And then make a rational response in your head.
Don’t do counterproductive things
There are some rather counterproductive ways that people deal with critique. One such behavior is criticizing back; it does not help your circumstances and can raise the temperatures. The criticism may entirely be valid and heated exchanges might cast you in a bad light.
Similarly, another unhelpful approach is being impulsive. You must take a break and assess your response. Gauge it before you unleash it.
Recognize the intent of the person
Some people are critical, just because. They unleash their frustration on the other person. They might be having a bad day otherwise and are running low on patience, and therefore might end up being critical of you.
Similarly, some people get high by putting others down. That is also their problem, not yours. It may take some time for you to train yourself to get this perspective, but you need to work on recognizing the intent of the personal being critical of you and detaching yourself if the critique is not well-deserved.
See if the criticism is warranted
You need to be objective in realizing if you the critique is warranted or not. You may need to cool down first, but you must evaluate the merit of the critique.
A little bit of criticism does not mean you are incompetent; we all falter at times. None of us is perfect, and so at times, the critique is valid. Take it like a big person.
Learn from the constructive criticism
Criticism can either be destructive or constructive. If someone is being mean just because, or are trying to pull your leg, then don’t give it a moment’s attention.
However, in case the criticism uses appropriate and respectful language, is rightly deserved, and helps you identify your mistake, then take it constructively.
Take the critique as a learning opportunity. Don’t dwell on being wrong, making a mistake, or such unhelpful behaviors. You are not infallible, and you can also be in the wrong.
Stop taking things personally
If you want to survive in this world, and have your mental peace that they criticized, then you need to stop taking things personally. Another person’s conduct has got nothing to do with you, and therefore, capitalize on it to detach yourself.
However, it does not mean that you don’t heed to the criticized. If valid, do accept it, but don’t pay attention to the conduct, tone, and similar unhelpful aspects.
Seek professional help
For in some cases, the sensitivity to criticism can be because of their mental health problems like obsessive compulsive behavior, or their personality traits, like perfectionism. These conditions need to be addressed with the aid of the Best Psychologist in Lahore, as otherwise, they have a grave impact on the quality of life.
Decide if feedback is constructive or destructive
Think about whether feedback is coming from someone who cares about you, references an area you want to improve in, or specifies how to get better.
If you make a veggie moussaka for your bae, and they tell you it’s terrible without detailing why, they may just be nitpicking for its own sake. And they can make their own friggin’ moussaka next time.
Some people criticize others to cement a never-ending power trip. You’ll usually be able to recognize this if the criticism is baseless. For example, a manager criticizing your stats without having calculated them.
Or perhaps the feedback is followed up with demeaning or self-aggrandizing language — “because I said so” is a huge red flag. You can swerve this criticism big time.
However, your reaction to criticism should vary depending on its intention. It’s important to take stock of the people in your life who really want the best for you. If they do, then criticism should be a dialogue. If you prefer a different style of communication, let someone know.
