“The majority of people permit relatives, friends, and the public at large to so influence them that they cannot live their own lives, because they fear criticism.” – Napoleon Hill
As a creative, I’ve found many segments of my work put under severe criticism, some helpful while others complete rubbish belted forth from a place that usually is filled with hate or insecurity. Over the course of time, I’ve learned which pieces of criticism are useful and which pieces I should ignore. Today, however, we’re going to touch a little on personal criticism. The kind some use as a tool towards bringing others down.
First, life is hard enough. Why should we make it any more difficult than it already is?
Back in elementary school there was an acronym I kept hearing the other kids say quite often. It was MYOB, or in other words mind your own business. Looking back I realize that saying to be a little harsh but one that was needed. Nowadays we fill our time keeping up with what’s going on in everyone else’s life but ours. We consume the faults of others with a passion while our own personal development is a complete wasteland of decaying ambitions and goals.
Minding one’s own business tends to free up a lot of time and resources, but this isn’t to say that we should stop caring for one another either. With all this extra time, we can now dedicate ourselves to staying in our own lane. Doing good work and leaving a mark that says we chose not to blindly follow others but that we chose to be different and stand for something more than just earthly gain.
The time we take criticizing others and combing through others mistakes is time we can spend improving ourselves.
On the other hand, for some of us we tend to do things that seem to just stir the pot so to speak. Sure, we all have one life to live, but if our life causes our fellow man to lose their way then we’re just as bad as those who dedicate their time to the tarnishing of others.
We were put on this earth to do great things, but how are we so do that if we are focused on what’s truly important in our lives.
Not all criticism is bad, some of it is actually helpful, the key is to lead with love. If it isn’t your place to give advice, then respect that. If it is your place, then understand the depth of the responsibility you hold in terms of possibly influencing someone else’s life.
Often the best way to break the bounds of criticism is to look in the mirror and ask, have you been the best person you could be today?
No one of us is perfect, no matter how much we try we’ll always come up short somehow. What makes this a good thing is where we fall short, love mercy and grace pick up the tab.
Together let’s be a little slower in criticizing others before we walk a few miles in their shoes and a bit quicker in helping others make it through the difficult times.
Let it be said at the end of your story that you hesitate not to help someone in need versus you were the neighborhood grouch.
Aiming upwards is no easy task in a world where the gravity seems to pull us into hopelessness and empty promises, but every step in this journey is worth it. Life isn’t a destination but a journey, one that can’t be rushed no matter how hard we try to.
The criticism that is intended to hurt or undermine has no room at the table of success, for all it will do is take away useful time from something else that is much more deserving of that attention.
Time waits for no man. More importantly time wasted can never be made up for down the road.
Are you focusing on what truly matters in your lane? Or are you criticizing someone else in their lane?
