“You Don’t Know Me Like That” or How I Learned to Handle Critics

One of my biggest pet peeves and anger points is when individuals ascribe character traits that don’t reflect me as a person. This can be especially disrespectful when people go online or behind my back and spread the nonsense. Over time, however, I’ve learned that I don’t control what people think or say about me. I discovered that I can analyze both the criticism and the critic to assess why what being said is not true. This gives me the opportunity to protect my freedom from others trying to drag me down. It also gives me the chance to express what I believe are true traits of mine.

I’ve come up with a seven-step process that helps me tackle this issue:

1. Acknowledge the critical statement.

2. Determine whether it is true or false.

3. Explain, with concrete examples, why I believe the statement is false.

4. Acknowledge the person who said.

5. Explain why I believe this person is wrong.

6. Determine if the individual is in a position to make that assessment.

7. Be vocal in response.

In future posts, I will go after several comments made about me that I know have no real merit. I think it will be fun to break apart myths that concern me.