011 - What to do when somebody criticises you.
Hi,
At some point you will be criticised. We usually take the time to prepare for situations but default to an emotional response to criticism. The stoics are here to help. 1
Maybe the person is correct.
“When someone provokes you, if you respond with anger or some other negative emotion, your mind is tricked into believing you are being harmed. So it is essential not to respond to impressions impulsively. Take some time before reacting. You will see you are in better control.” — Epictetus,
When we criticise others, we usually believe that we are just telling somebody the way it is. The first thing to do is to assess if the criticism is valid or not.
What if any action needs to be taken?
Even if the criticism is valid, there may be nothing you can do about it. In which case - don’t worry about it.
If the criticism is not justified.
We can listen to Marcus Aurelius
Does someone despise me?
That’s their problem. Mine is to ensure that what I do or say does not deserve sneer.
Does someone hate me?
Again, it is their problem. My job is to be friendly and charitable to everyone including those who hate me and show them their mistake.
Marcus Aurelius,
Three things
One interesting article. – There are an increasing number of jobs advertised only for M1-M3 - This article from the Secret Head Teacher explains why.
Podcast - 🎧 Tim Ferris and Matthew McConaughey
Interesting images – What happens if
I hope there is something of value for you here. If you have anything to add, please contact me, I’d love to hear from you.
Mr T
