Celebrate Your Critics

I have a secret fear. No one knows about it and I keep it tucked away where it is safe and I can maintain my machismo…

This fear has kept kept me back from so many opportunities. Who knows where I would be if I could conquer this monster which lurks in my shadows.

I have a fear of criticism. I fear that my work will be reviewed by some mythical committee, only to be deemed unworthy of acclaim. I fear the legion of trolls will come out of their caves and call me out for the phony that I truly am.

So I sit….

I wait…

I over analyze…

I start some new project…

and nothing ever sees the light of day.

I thought I was being safe until one day I realized that I had fallen into a fate much worse than criticism. All the people in my life who I thought would laugh and ridicule me began to do much worse- pity me.

My fear had made me inactive and people began to wonder what had happened to that guy with all that potential. I no longer saw pride in their eyes when they saw me, only concern and fear of what was going to happen to me.

Trying to avoid pain in this life will almost guarantee that you will receive a double dose of it.

It is in our nature as human beings to want acceptance and adulation from everyone we encounter. Universal acclaim is our intoxicant, but you should really pray for more critics.

When you are met with tons of criticism, it is a clear indication that you are up to something special.

The guy in the cubicle next to you is not being met with violent opposition.

The trolls are not really coming for the average person.

In order for you to get to the levels you want to achieve you are going to have to make people around you uncomfortable. Most critics are really just saying, ¨Why can´t you just stay in mediocrity with us? How dare you try to create something foreign to us? We love the familiar, we love status quo, and we don´t appreciate your attempt at growth!¨

I finally got past my fear when I also realized that I was focused too much on me and my little feelings. All the criticism and trolls that will inevitably come are worth that one reader/listener that needed to hear what I had to say to get them through the day.

Know this, your fear and hesitation to share your talents with the world has consequences. You sitting on your greatness inspires others to hide as well.

To truly make yourself an agent of change and growth you must be willing to bravely run into the land of discomfort and be the inspiration I know you are.

The world is waiting to tear you to shreds, but it is also waiting to fall in love with you.

Hello world, my name is Greg Gibbs and I write to you with fear and trepidation, but I refuse to let that prevent me from expressing myself.

Please join me as I attempt to produce 1oo pieces of content in 100 days.