On Work And Life : Why Your Critics Are Not The Ones Who Matter
Criticism is one thing that have always crippled people in one way or another. The reason why most creatives don't produce is because they are afraid of what people will say.
This fear of criticism can also make someone feel that they don't actually belong even when they are making progress. Such people fail to see themselves as the Creatives they truly are. They have that feeling of being an Imposter
What people fail to realize is that art is a function of connectivity. It is your art, be it words or Images that will make people connect with you. I know Steemians like @stellabelle who go round this platform on a daily basis looking for Creatives to connect with
Most people are afraid to go big in what ever they are doing because they don't want to go through the motion of defending their work against the criticism of strangers on the Internet. The truth however is that you need to go through that Stage to actually get better
It is not the critic who counts, it is not the man who stands and points out where the strong man stumbles
Or how the doer of deeds could have done better
The credit belongs to the Man who is actually in the arena, who face is marred with blood sweat and blood
Who at the best in the end knows the triumph of high achievement, and who if he fails, fails doing greatly
This quote by Theodore Roosevelt shows that, it is not about winning or losing. It is about showing up and being seen that matters
We all know that victory is not sure in everything we do, but we all know that anything worthwhile will surely take us through things that will stretch us. No matter what you do, there is always a time of testing.
Once you commit yourself to creating anything in Life, you will surely encounter adversity. Adversity is the consequence for courage
Criticisms on their own is important as they help shape whatever you are doing, but they are limit to the kind of ones you will let shape whatever you are doing. On the Intenet these days everyone has an opinion.
One of the ways to choose what criticism to evaluate is the source. If the person criticising is not in the Creative game, then you have to really evaluate the person opinion to know whether to take it to heart
We all have those periods of fantasy where we lie in bed and Imagine the things we will do to Impact the world in a better place, while all the time we have those things inside us that can effect change, but we get addicted by the comfort that comes from living out those things only in our heads
We always let things like fear, self-doubt,comparism, anxiety and uncertainty hold us down from taking the important step.
You will have to take that bold step and embrace vulnerability, because it is one of the things that you require to create. Embracing your vulnerability makes you real in the outside world. You don't put up fake facades to make people accept you
Another Impossible desire people have is to attain zero criticism for whatever they are doing.But in the creative world there are three things that are always constant and they are shame,scarcity and comparism
Shame is a universal feeling where Humans feel that they are not enough, and that they will never be able to meet up with the expectations of the public
Scarcity is a feeling that crops up from the Imposter syndrome. You find yourself saying " there are hundreds of people already doing this and most of them are better and well trained than me. What can I possibly do that have not been done before ?"
Comparism is looking at all ways your work is inferior from that of others. You constantly seek out those who are better than you and may use it as an excuse to quit what you are doing
Hi @ogochukwu
I remember the times that i used to think that nobody will accept the things i do, i was so conscious of what people will say and i just stayed in my comfort zone. But when i found the world is moving me and that fortune favours the bold, i destroyed the box i created for myself and life is good. There is much fulfillment when your living your true potential, right now, i see my failures as lessons..
That's very true. You have to taste a lot of things on your way to success.
It is just like cooking soup,you need to check for all Ingredients before completing the cooking process.
Thanks for sharing this article @ogochukwu
I must add, that criticism can either make you better or make you worst. The result of criticism is dependent on the person who's criticized.
To one criticism, may trigger you to leave your comfort zone and achieve results. To another, criticism may mean discouragement.
That's where we need cheerleaders, people who will encourage us to pursue our goals with diligence.
Thanks for sharing @ogochukwu
Thanks for the added wisdom. @kingsley-clement
Hello @ogochukwu.
Thanks for sharing this powerful post... Reading it made me feel like you were looking at my heart and writing it, because this is exactly what I needed at the moment.
Keep steeming brother! ☺
@kayceesuave
I am glad that I was able to inspire you @kayceesuave
There's a misconception that criticism is bad. It's not, it's the lifeblood of improving. (Of course it has to be aimed at the work itself, not at the person.)
Many artists are out there right now, BEGGING for crits, for any kind of feedback. Cheerleaders make us feel warm and successful, but it could be an illusion. Critics make us grow. The harsher and more truthful, the more we grow. Of course it's painful, and most people would prefer to avoid pain.
For this reason there's the "Sandwich" method of criticism - start your feedback with something good, then do all the real crits (keeping it constructive of course), and finally end with another positive point.
Yeah @stahlberg
I came across the sandwinch method last year and I must say that it is an effective tool when it comes to evaluating someone's work.
That is an excerpt from my life. Relating it to steemit, I've had numerous ideas but comments from critics have driven these ideas down the drain
Just like the post explained you have to really evaluate the Criticisms to know genuine ones and those who are just trolling
Chai! This line hit me, meeehn! In fact, the whole essay makes me feel attacked 😢
But seriously, it hits home. I have spent too long not accomplishing anything because, as long as I didn't try, I could always have it in the back of my head that "yeah, I could do it if I really wanted to" like the reverse of the drug addict mantra "I can quit whenever I want -- I just don't want to."
sigh
Time to get back on the horse. Thanks for this.
I am glad that I was able to get you back on the horse @edumurphy
Bad and Good,
Man and woman,
Angels and Demons, bla bla bla...
Nature from the magnanimity of her wisdom was wise enough to allow life have two sides. Antagonism or criticism is the best way to subject our efforts to scrutiny.
Even in modern democracy, the importance of opposition cannot be overemphasized, because these are those from the sidelines who act as watchdogs over incumbent government.
In the Universe of the Scholars, no theory is ever so good to the extent that it becomes devoid of criticism, that's not possible.
However, I will not fail to point out that, the victim of these criticisms should remain resolute and undeterred, because without opposition, They will be no progression.
So Criticisms and opposition is as important as creativity itself.
Thanks @ogochukwu for this insightful piece.
I've been missing a lot.
I can say that this is one of the best comments I have received this year. Thank you for this powerful droplet of wisdom
@idunique
🙌🙌🙌
It is impossible to grow as a writer, artist, or just a creative person if all you do is nothing. These kinds of skills are like everything else in life you need to practice and hone them in.
I just go into things knowing no matter what someone out there is going hate it. People have such false notion that they are going be “popular” and “loved” by all. Some people become so addicted to these “needs” they have that they dress, talk, and act in a manner they deem will make them look “popular” and “loved.”
I have noticed many people have such fears on Steemit and they also let trying to be “perfect” get the best of themselves. You look and see they have 0 blogs o maybe they have one or two and that is all. I try my best to tell them things like “start off with an intro post and be yourself.” For the most part, unless you are going out of your way to offend and anger people off they tend to just go to the next blog then pass on their criticism.
You never fail to shed more light on issues with your amazing comments.
I too have noticed people who rarely blog but comment actively.
Thanks for the added wisdom @enjar
criticism will always be there as far as you are still dealing with human being.
that is true
and without criticism there will not be a patterned way of doing things and will be living free life without progress.
@ogochukwu thanks for sharing this .is a food for thought.
blessings good friend.
Thanks for reading @egbujorvictor
This is a powerful post, more powers to our elbows.