4 Shocking Benefits of Having Critics!

I am sure it very rare to say that having critical or negative people around offers any benefit.  It is very tempting to get offended when we are criticised, or some negative comment passed.   We may feel upset, emotional or hurt.  There have been cases even when criticism has led some people to withdraw socially, or to even become depressed or anxious.

 However, criticism can be positive…

 I remember many years ago going to a writer’s club.  One lady actually shredded one of the things I presented whereas others were saying it was an epic piece.  I was grateful for the vote of confidence from the others but also very thankful for the criticism; for the butchery.  Her comments went a long way in helping me improve my writing in the long run…

 ##1  Your Critics Show That We Are Of Value

When you have critics, you may feel they really do not like you or are jealous of you. This is not necessarily so.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs critics!  A critic does not always have to have a personal vendatta against you.

Even Jesus had critics.  The Pharisees and Saducees could never see good in anything He did.  Even when Jesus was busy healing people, they would find something in their Law, to discredit Jesus.  However, He never had a personal sling match at them –  or by today’s standard, use the internet and social media to answer back.  Jesus took it all in His chin.  We can do the same out of necessity. 

If someone criticizes you, especially a great deal, it shows you have something worthy of criticism.  It shows you have attention.  So don’t be sad even if the criticisms are full of lies… celebrate.  You have an audience.  A poor man has no or if at all, few critics.  All a poor man has are sympathisers, or worse, people who ignore him. 

The fact you are criticized shows how valuable you are.  The richest country in the world will always have by far more enemies than the poorest country!  Every one is friends with a poor country.  If you are going to make a success in life, you MUST have critics.

##2  Critics Keep Us Ahead

The negative feedbacks a customer gives for a product, often helps the manufacturer improve the product.  A negative comment helps a manufacturer develop a better product. 

If everyone kept saying how excellent and wonderful the black and white TV was, we would not have some of the TVs of today.  And if the much needed critics do not find something to criticise about the TVs of today then there will be no better ones for tomorrow.   Critics give us the much needed advantage.

##3  Critics keeps us on our Toes

Critical people are often good at finding something wrong with even the best things.  They will tell you why something will not work.  Critics are giving you free feedback!!!  They will tell you that so and so won’t work because you are not qualified or rich enough or this enough or that enough.

Come on, if you ‘value your crtics’ (lol), you will see that this works in your favor.  They have done all the research for you or will get you researching to check!  And you will then be on the right side of the law or get the pre-requisites they pointed out.  My, my…I can’t think of anything better.

When Michael Edison was trying to develop the light bulb, he made a remarkable statement after 10,000 attempts.  He said he had found 10,000 ways how not to make a light bulb.  What a mindset.  Imagine if he instead that had been 10,000 people who told him these things?  The output would still be same.  He would have still discovered 10,000 ways how not to develop his project.   Remember you NEED your critics!

##4  Critics Are Wonderful Risk Assessors…(And are free too)

Oh yes.  Sometimes we can get very carried away with an idea.  We are ready to blow up our life savings on an idea because it sounds good.  We are too excited even to pray or when we do, because our hearts are set a particular way, we are not listening for the response, or not even prepared to wait for ‘due time’.

This is where our critics come in.  Critics can keep us grounded.  There are risks we can take, even as Christians that God is not backing us.  And remember, just because someone says something that is contrary to what you believe does not mean they are criticising you too.  They may have a valid point or may be the voice that God is using to reach you. 

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Remember, critics do not have to necessarily lower our expectations.  Our expectations must always remain high.  We must be full of faith, not foolish or presumption, mind you.  Sometimes, we know we have a strong conviction about something and we must follow our spirit and not the voice of the critics. 

Remember not to get too emotional.  Think before you respond or react.  You need your critics.

Have you benefited from a comment from a critic?  Were you angry at the time but now thank them?  If you are a caregiver, you may find this podcast on ‘Handling Criticisms as a Caregiver‘ useful

About The Author

Zoe

Zoe met Eze (Chuck) in the 14th year of what turned out to be an 18 year ‘journey’ with mental illness. They got married less than a year of meeting with Zoe fully knowing Chuck had a diagnosis of mental illness. In the 18th year, Chuck defied the odds of mental illness. A consultant psychiatrist signed him off the mental health system with a bill of NO MENTAL ILLNESS. The consultant was so amazed by Chuck’s astonishing recovery that he even questioned how Chuck was diagnosed with mental illness all those years before, in the first place! Today Chuck is free from medication, its dependency and hospitalizations. Zoe’s award nominated book, DEFYING THE ODDS, chronicles the highs and ‘lows’ of this journey. Zoe, often writing from the standpoint of a caregiver, clearly understands that mental illness does not only affect an individual challenged with the disease, but also families, marriages and society as a whole.

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