Like water off your back

People on the Internet have balls.

I recently wrote a short piece about Madonna that the editors of Salon featured. After my initial excitement subsided, I braced myself for the comments. After re-reading the mean ones, basking in the good ones and laughing at the juvenile, I told myself it’s time to move on.

Putting ourselves out there in the world will always bring praise and haters – it’s the nature of the beast. So what do we do when we are on the receiving end of negative opinion?

For some of us, it’s easy to wallow in the negative. Our inside voices seem to give us a head start by saying things like “you’re no good”, “why are you even trying”… etc. It’s hard to re-wire our brains and tell ourselves: “you are worthy”, “you can do this”. Sometimes it’s harder than others, but it can be done.

I used to take things more personally until I heard the best saying: What other people think of me is none of my business. That’s how I respond to criticism. I remember that the only thing that matters is what I think of me. It’s the only thing I can control.

So tell me – whether it be from someone or your own self – how do you handle criticism?

5 thoughts on “Like water off your back”

i think the healthiest reaction to criticism is to realize you are doing something most others will never even attempt. if you have the chance ask the critic to compose and little something and you will be happy to review it for them…

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I am not sure where I stand with criticism. It is one reason I choose to use a different name online so I can say whatever I want without people saying things to me directly. SO, I guess that makes me a 'not-so-brave-and-fearless-soul-who-would-rather-hide-behind-a-different-name".But I really do like that quote about the fact that it's none of my business. I am opening up and have told some of my close friends and family about my blog so I know they check it out and I am getting a little more courageous.

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To be honest I care a lot about what people think of me, criticism can be useful, sometimes I have to stop and listen if I like to be happy with others. 🙂

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More often than not, it ends up being a head vs heart kinda thing. The rationalist in me knows that I shouldn't take criticism personally, whether it's constructive or not. I know that I'm better than "them", I know that I shouldn't care, yet.. The darn kid in me is incredibly upset because someone doesn't like her.It's a constant struggle, sometimes the brain wins, sometimes the heart/little kid does. I never know which wayit goes.

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