Criticisms follow each one of us like the fucking plague. Everyone has a opinion about how you’re doing or what you should or should not be doing. As tough or thick skinned as you might think you are sometimes those criticisms can sink in and become part of you. Are all criticisms bad? Of course not, but most are and I will tell you why. See anybody that does anything worth doing is going to have people putting in their two cents at almost every opportunity. It’s a given. If you don’t want any critics either never do anything or never tell anyone about what you’re doing.
For example if you decided that you wanted to write a novel or pick up painting or hell even weight lifting or body building everyone and anyone you give the permission to share their opinions will in fact share their opinions. Again this isn’t all bad because sometimes we need someone who knows a thing or two about whatever endeavor we are about to embark on to maybe shed some light or wisdom in regards to what we plan to do. A lot of times that is extremely helpful, it gives those of us that are emotionally driven about everything to take a practical approach (friends and family have helped me out A LOT in this department). But that is where it usually stops. In my experience only the very few people closest to me have expressed sincere opinions in regards to what I was doing or planned on doing. Even if those criticisms hurt I understood that they were coming from a positive place and that I need to take head of what they’re saying.
The part that you have to be cautious of is what the majority of the people that critic you are saying. Because a lot of time they are just “hatin.” This usually happens for one reason and one reason only-you are doing what your soul is pushing you to do and since the “haters” have not chased their most inner truest desires they only spew hate in hopes of easing the pain of having to live without adhering to their calling. Your calling is that thing that burns inside of you whenever you think about doing what you really want to do-that feeling of total satisfaction after you have completed the task. If you’re unaware of what your calling really is think about the thing that you really want to do and the more fear and apprehension you feel towards doing it correlates to the importance of it. The more you fear it the more you have to do it.
One of my many callings has and always will be lifting. It’s become so much more than just exercise that it’s tough for me to really express on how many levels it has transformed as a person. Along the way I have heard my fair share of critics basically shit on what I am doing or talk about how unnecessary the effort I am putting into my diet or training really is (that is until they see the end result of course by then it’s a full on mire session). My point here is to take every criticism with a grain of salt but also have the humility to be able to look at yourself and what you’re doing objectively. There is ALWAYS room to improve and grow so never be completely closed off to criticisms but be weary of those that share them from a negative place. The only thing that counts is ACTION. So for those that are pointing and critiquing the person in the arena with the sweat and dirt on his face please take a long hard look at what you’re doing and realize that it’s a lot better to try and fail than to never have tried at all.
For the people in the arena know that the only difference between reaching your goal and not is persistence. Keep pushing. Keep growing. Happy Liftin’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o4O3U220GE
Change your perspective on what you feel and why you feel it.
