Dealing with Criticism

~ Gottfried

It is funny to be a critic. A critic is a legless man who teaches other people to run. Ideally, if you can’t cook, you shouldn’t tell people that their food needs salt. A critic like me is doing so anyway. The worst-case scenario is that it’ll be the last time I ever eat your food. There will be no winners. If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married. My girlfriend was told she doesn’t take criticism very well. I said that must have been hard to hear.

Learn to use criticism and you’ll never run out of fuel. I have finally completed my PhD in Literary Criticism and I beg you not to speak of the irony. A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car. I hope you have enough fuel for this long drive sweetheart. The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment. I for one have settled for being ordinary. Criticize me and you’re going to catch these hands.

Criticism. If nothing bad is said, nothing good will ever be done. Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do. The others just aren’t living up to their potential. On the upside, they sometimes are the catalysts for change. Never assume every critic is a hater. Not everyone is hating on you. Some people are telling the truth. But you’re not ready for the truth.

When you are a giraffe and you receive criticism from turtles, they are reporting the view from the level they are on. Don’t let people’s compliments go to your head and don’t let their criticism get to your heart. I love criticism, just so long as it is unqualified praise. If you don’t have critics, you probably don’t have success either. I now see why people are hell-bent on having haters. Criticizing the government for Russian journalists is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger. I was telling my friend a joke about sky diving but he gave me constructive criticism on it. It didn’t land very well. Before you criticise someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes. If you’re not open to constructive criticism, then you’re not open to truly growing as a person. That’s why you’re short!

Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people get, is taking a bite out of you. It’s funny when people criticise their version of you. Often they forget, they are criticising a part of their own selves. People are probably not happy with their lives if they’re busy discussing yours. You’re a breath of fresh air to them. What is the difference between a critic and a puppy? With time, training and patience, it is possible to make a puppy stop whining.

Don’t mind criticism. If it is untrue, disregard it. If it is unfair, keep from irritation. If it is ignorant, smile. If it is justified, learn from it. Know this, you can’t escape criticism even if you tried. I found my son hanging from a rope in his bedroom. On the floor was a note saying, “I can’t stand the cricitism anymore.” I quickly cut him down, gave him CPR and he started to breathe. As he lay in my arms I saw his eyes slowly open and I said, “That’s not how you spell criticism.” To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing

and be nothing

©️ Gottfried. All rights reserved

222 thoughts on “Dealing with Criticism”

  1. You got me to laugh out loud again. Crazy diamond. I have a grandson with a boil on his bum and a granddaughter whining about Mr Bean with her mouth but not her eyes. I just want tea. But here I am, laughing because it’s Monday and that’s always wonderful. I agree totally. Teach the kids how to spell. God knows at 70 you begin to forget and someone needs to help. Autocorrect can only do so much, I find. I really think you could do two a week. The world needs you.
    Love and Light.

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  5. Such terrific writing! What a brain you’ve got there Gottfried. I will remember: “If you’re not open to constructive criticism, then you’re not open to truly growing as a person. That’s why you’re short!.” I am short and I know a lot of other shorties that will love hearing me repeat this. Best to you always!

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    1. hahaha, I’m glad to get a representative of the shorties that is cool with that paragraph. It is usually against the nature of shorties to agree to anything 🤣

      Warm regards dear friend

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  7. Everything you wrote is facts. But there are just some people that you’d rather not hear their opinion because it’s always negative😭. But you can’t just say shut up!

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