Constructive Criticism is like growing!
You don’t want it… which is why it is needed
I remember back when I was a baby creative, I used to get extremely defensive when someone shared their thoughts on my projects. Anything that wasn’t positive or congratulatory was met with anger and “How would you know?”
Upon reflection, I realized that these defensive reactions rose from anger that came from fear.
💔 Fear of rejection of my work
💔 Fear of being left out
💔 Fear of not being enough
💔 Fear of someone rejecting the idea of me and my form and medium of expression
💔 Fear of someone realizing that I was a fraud
💔 Fear of not being seen or heard
💔 Fear of losing my inner child that was being pushed aside so that the adult version of me could bear the weight of criticism with grace.
💔 Fear of not being able to return to my work with confidence.
And this fear added so many expectations and so much stress to my life, that I knew I needed to do something about it.
I was here to use art and written words as my medium to talk about myself, but if the very thought of doing that raised fear in my heart, and told me to go back to being the “good girl” and not do anything that would harm me… If that fear existed, I knew that I would never be able to show and share my journey.
With time and practice, this fear vanished, (though it does show up every now and then) when I realized that every criticism was a way for me to grow up and evolve.
Just like a caterpillar that has to struggle to wriggle its way out of a cocoon to develop strong wings as a butterfly, these moments of criticism, while stressful to deal with as a young creative, were important in helping me progress and grow as a writer.
The choice was mine. Those opinions and criticisms that I chose had to be followed through, no matter how uncomfortable it might feel, and those comments that I chose to leave behind were left behind with gratitude and grace!
So… what are you going to choose?
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Before I go, here are some announcements from my world that can get you excited and hyped for the coming week -
- New Market Research is now in the market (hehe). I would love to learn of better ways to serve you, so if you have the time, please fill out this form! There is candy, sorry, free gifts at the end!
- Burnout 101 has now launched on Udemy. Learn everything you can about Burnout from what it means to how you can navigate, overcome, and prevent it! Start your journey towards personal freedom today!
- Kung Pik Liu shares her journey as a creative inside The Soul’s Conquest! Before her episode releases, be sure to check out the stories of some of my other guests, such as Mouse Wilson, Michael Janda, Chris Do, Anna Davidson, Amie Barsky, and so many more brilliant changemakers!
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Madhurima Sappatti is an amazing Freedom Soul Coach, with an aim to guide changemakers to manage stress so that they don’t burn out. And if they do find themselves in the bonds of Burnout, she guides them towards their version of freedom. The intention, in the end, is to create a sustainable space that will help them grow, expand, and experience Freedom. She brings together inner work, burnout, and spirituality to enable as many people as possible to follow their dreams and passions!
