Recognize the blessing in receiving constructive criticism

bird-singingWhen people give you constructive criticism, especially in a creative project where they have more professional experience, it’s counter productive to get ticked off.  Be thankful they care enough to point it out and want you to better.  They’ve seen you’re capable of doing better. That’s what they want to showcase. That’s what they want to be involved in. That’s what they want to promote. To take offense is to miss the blessing and the guidance. I welcome constructive criticism, from friends and strangers alike.  I define constructive as promoting improvement or development, when someone tells me specifically what they didn’t like and suggest specific improvements.

Early on as I was sketching and painting, a friend who was a professional artist gave me what was really good constructive criticism. At the time I just let it tick me off and put my paints down for a year. I was stuck on what I thought was my natural style, and they were just giving me helpful tips on perspective (imagine that!) and such. I have since grown up and recognize what a blessing that was as they were exactly right. My ego was the only thing in the way.

Sometimes people just don’t know how to be diplomatic. When someone says anything to me now, I go for content over form every time. I think that yes, we should all be kind and diplomatic but some people weren’t taught to be.  I don’t want to miss an important message simply because I don’t like the package or person delivering it.

Constructive criticism and the sunburned grinch in WalMart