Nobody likes to be criticized, but for some, harsh criticism can feel like a real body blow. Criticism, whether warranted or not, can ruin your entire day and you may even have found your mind returning to it again and again. Poorly handled, criticism can damage your confidence and cause self-doubt.

Have you ever noticed that some people let criticism slide off them like water off a duck's back?


Nothing seems to get them down. But how do they do it? It is easy to make throwaway assumptions such as "oh, they must have better self esteem than me", but that is really no explanation at all.

People who handle criticism well are simply employing a range of tactics and techniques that automatically take the power out of the critical statement. Then they are left free to decide whether the criticism is deserved, and so act on it. Or whether it is unwarranted and so ignore it.

But how do these people handle criticism so well?

People who handle even harsh criticism with ease first and foremost are able to remain calmer than those who it affects badly. This leaves them able to think. This is a key point, because reacting emotionally is exactly what you don't want.

Secondly, they have the attitude that just because someone says something, that is not an indicator that it carries any value. It may simply be a reflection of the person making the criticism.

Thirdly, they understand that criticism can be a valuable personal development tool, and so are on the lookout for helpful feedback.

When you integrate these attitudes and more, handling criticism will become really, really easy. It will roll off you like that duck shedding water, and you will be able to gain from it when it is useful.

I leave you all with a personal quote which I've used to inspire me all through my growing years:

"I've built the foundations of my huse with the stones others threw at me, and raised the walls of my house with the bricks others hurled at me. Then I put a "celing"on all of it to stand tall and today I have a house which is filled with condfidence, love and trust that all of them want to come into it for at least a while if not for long.This includes even those who threw the stones and hurled the bricks."