We’ve all be there. Either we’ve turned in a project at work where we’ve been given feedback or at home a partner or a family member has expressed their opinion about something we’ve done. And at some point or another we’ve taken a response and internalized it to an extreme where based on one sentence out of many we’ve concluded that we’re the worst employee in the world, the worst wife, husband, mother, father, friend, etc. We’ve at some point interpreted what the other person is thinking about us, emphasizing all that we don’t know instead of what we do know. We get defensive. We shut down. We get stuck in what was said repeating it again and again thinking that will somehow shed light on something yet all it does is feed the anger and frustration.
When we react to criticism we do so because we feel someone is questioning our value, our worth – that we “should” be somehow different than we are – that who we are isn’t good enough. Even if it’s something as little as being asked to clean the dishes a second time after already agreeing to do it – this can send some of us into becoming defensive and argumentative.
How do we change this pattern of communication? So our partner can tell us he or she didn’t like dinner and we don’t feel that’s a critique on what we decided to cook. Or that our boss offers suggestions for improvements and we don’t take it to mean that we’re horrible at our job and should maybe start looking for another one. Well, that’s what this course is all about.
By the end of our 6 weeks together you’ll be able to respond to criticism in a completely new way. You’ll be more patient and tolerant of yourself and others. You’ll think more before you react. You’ll be more open in difficult conversations, and less defensive and argumentative. You may even swear less and be more present in your conversations.
If you’re ready to change your relationship to criticism complete the application and hit submit. I’ll reach out within 24 hours to set up a quick call and to see if it’s a good fit.