Hello Friend!

Welcome to this new upgrade for your brain!
Today’s upgrade will focus on developing its ability to Take Criticism🧠

All you need to do is open your mind, and enjoy the following enhancement of yourself!

⚡
Cognitive Pulse

 Brain warming up

Get doubtful about a question

Is it important to separate emotions from the feedback received?
_{Answer at the end}

💡
Neuronal Activation

Ability explanation, and why you must develop it.

What are we talking about?

ℹ️ - Accepting criticism is like eating your veggies – it’s not fun, but necessary.

It's uncomfortable because it forces you to see your flaws, but in doing that, it molds you into a better version of yourself. So, embrace the discomfort, take the lessons to heart, and grow from it.

It’s tough love, but that’s what it takes to move forward.

💪 - Embracing criticism gives you important feedback that can lead to personal and professional growth.

It shows that you're mature and willing to learn. With this approach, you can build stronger relationships, become more successful, and consistently refine your skills, turning challenges into opportunities.

Not-so-random facts

1. Criticism activates the same brain regions as physical pain, indicating it can be emotionally painful.

2. Criticism can lead to cognitive dissonance, causing discomfort until the feedback is reconciled.

3. Receiving criticism in a positive and supportive environment can mitigate its negative effects.

4. Being defensive when receiving criticism can hinder learning and growth.

5. Self-affirmation before receiving criticism can reduce defensiveness.

🧠
Skill Encoding

 Deeper dive into the skill, with actionable learning materials.

8 Therapist-Backed Tips for Taking Criticism Like a Champ

Concept:

This article shares therapist-backed strategies to handle criticism effectively. It explains how criticism can feel like rejection and offers practical tips to make criticism sting less and better process it.

Takeaways:

1. Ask for Clarification:

   If someone criticizes you, ask for more details to understand their intentions. This can help you see the critique more objectively.

2. Consider Opinions Differ:

   Remember, criticism might just be someone's opinion. Try not to internalize it too much—it doesn’t define your worth.

3. Test-Drive Criticism:

   Treat criticism as an experiment. Test the feedback before discarding it completely. If it doesn’t work for you, you can always pivot.

4. Distance Yourself:

   Practice cognitive defusion by visualizing criticism as just words. This can help you take it less personally.

5. Assess Worth of Pushing Back:

   Evaluate if defending yourself is worth the potential consequences. Sometimes, a calm response or a pause is more prudent.

6. Express Your Feelings:

   Communicate your feelings about the criticism to the person. It can help clear misunderstandings and release built-up emotions.

7. Give Time to Emotions:

   Allow yourself to feel and process emotions instead of suppressing them. This mindfulness can prevent an emotional spiral.

8. Be Kind to Yourself:

   Treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend. Self-care and self-kindness are vital when dealing with criticism.

How to Keep Criticism from Undermining Your Confidence

Concept:

The article discusses the challenges of leadership, particularly handling criticism. It emphasizes the inevitability of critics, and offers strategies for managing negative feedback and maintaining personal well-being amid dissent.

Takeaways:

1. Don't Assume:

   If someone seems off, ask them what's on their mind. Avoid jumping to conclusions about their thoughts or feelings.

2. Gauge Concerns:

   When faced with criticism, assess its severity. Determine if it indicates a larger issue or is a one-off concern.

3. Separate Role from Self:

   Apply the feedback to your professional role rather than taking it personally. This helps in maintaining perspective.

4. Seek Advice:

   Consult your trusted 'personal board of directors' for insights and support. Their external views can provide clarity.

5. Self-Care Matters:

   Ensure you’re looking after your physical and mental health. Balance is key to enduring and addressing criticism effectively.

6. Develop Resilience:

   Understand that universal approval is unlikely. Building a tolerance for criticism is essential for long-term success.

⏳
Skill Persistence

 Additional insightful content, and knowledge test.

🔎
Additional Resources

Ted Audio - How to Love Criticism | WorkLife with Adam Grant
Adam Grant explores why criticism is tough to handle and how radical transparency at Bridgewater Associates can help improve performance by embracing feedback.

Article - The Art Of Taking Criticism: 5 Tips For Professional Growth | Forbes
Receiving constructive criticism professionally helps identify growth areas, builds trust, and boosts career advancement. Key strategies include staying calm, owning mistakes, focusing on feedback content, seeking clarification, and acting on feedback.

Article - How to Accept Criticism with Grace and Appreciation
Handling criticism effectively involves pausing before reacting, finding positives in the feedback, thanking the critic, using it to improve, and maintaining grace and positivity to be the better person.

❔
Quiz

Introduction question answer:
Is it important to separate emotions from the feedback received?👉 Yes

Explanation: Separating emotions helps you view the feedback objectively and respond constructively.

😂
Losing The Serious

Thank you for reading!

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And remember: In the journey of becoming a better version of yourself, do not focus on perfection, but on progress (One upgrade at a time 😄).

Take care,
Nicolas