Healthguider’s Stressbusters
Cope With Criticism
We all know how it feels to be criticised. Criticism can
come from our work colleagues, our family members, friends
and even strangers in the street. The amount of stress we
feel as a result of the tongue-lashings will depend on our
perception of their value.
Overcome the stress of criticism by:
- Always thinking positively: ponder the positive attributes
of the criticism, not the negative. Very few criticisms
are devoid of any positive aspects. Think of how the criticism
might make you a better person, so that you achieve growth
and have learnt something; and not of any negative aspects
e.g. that it shows how “bad” you are.
- Never respond immediately to a criticism: on being
criticised most of us might feel angry, resentful, panicky,
jealous. First breathe deeply and think objectively about
what has been said. You will be able to respond, if necessary,
in a calm and much more coherent way.
- Don’t generalise; many of us take criticism as
a dig at us as a whole. Start to realise that it is something
that occurs at particular time and place. We all make
mistakes but these are not a reflection of our lives as
a whole. See criticism as a way of learning so that we
become even more brilliant.
© Healthguider 2004
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