(ThyBlackMan.com) A criticism is the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. We live daily in or on a bubble of criticism or at least the fear of being criticized.
Criticism moves on a loop; we get an idea, take action and meet success. At each point we face judgment. This criticism loop – or the fear of it – has kept many people from achieving their fondest dreams. We all have suffered from it at some point in our lives.
You may be feeling its effects right now! You had an idea for a
business venture; you initiated a plan of action; you were poised to realize success. At each point, though, you met resistance – either from others or the voices in your own head. You gave in to criticism.
We should take heart at the words of Norman Vincent Peale who wrote:
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
We fear these three types of censure.
Criticism of Idea
The first judgment we tend to wilt under is the criticism of idea. We have dreams, we have aspirations, we have goals; the problem is that when we endeavor to present such grand and lofty schemes to the world, we open ourselves to analysis and judgment of the merits of our ideas – and that is where the problem lies.
Our idea withers, like a raisin in the sun. Charles F. Haanel put it like this:
The criticism of the world is bitter only to those who cannot compel room for their ideas. It is fear of this criticism that causes many ideas to fail to see the light of day.
What idea did you have that you were afraid of people knowing about, fearing they would not go along with it?
Criticism of Action
Plato once said, When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.
Closely connected to the knock of idea is the criticism of action. Its actions – or lack thereof – that define us. We are harder on ourselves when we fail to act upon our idea. But, just as the idea if often criticized, so is the action attached to it. Consider this: Noah was criticized for building an ark, the likes of which the world had never seen. He took action, based on an idea, divinely presented, that the rains would soon come. We, too, have been divinely inspired with dreams – but we must take action!
Criticism of Success
First the idea. Second the action. Then, at some point, success comes. But it, too, is subject to fierce opportunism and derision.
Elvis Presley once quipped, Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.
Great advice, indeed! No person has ever walked in your shoes – so commit yourself to succeeding, regardless of what’s said.
It is the enemy’s last ditch effort to compromise your success. Or, even worse, it may be the one act you commit against yourself because – after birthing the idea and commencing the action – you are nonetheless unconvinced that you will reach success. The point is, whether from others or from you, you must not fear success. It is the final landmark on the road to fulfilling your dreams. It is the book published; it is the business now up and running; it is the skill sharpened.
Do not give into the criticism loop!
Staff Writer; W. Eric Croomes
This talented brother is a holistic lifestyle exercise expert and founder and executive coach of Infinite Strategies LLC, a multi-level coaching firm that develops and executes strategies for fitness training, youth achievement and lifestyle management. Eric is an author, fitness professional, holistic life coach and motivational speaker.
In October 2015, Eric released Life’s A Gym: Seven Fitness Principles to Get the Best of Both, which shows readers how to use exercise to attract a feeling of wellness, success and freedom (Infinite Strategies Coaching LLC, 2015) – http://www.infinitefitnesscoaching.com.