Criticisms good or bad?

Constructive and Destructive Criticism
By:Shanteeca Reid

At some point or another we have all been criticized or judged in our lives whether good or bad. Though not directly, is it safe to say that these criticisms may have helped us and may have given us the drive to progress in our endeavors.?  At the same time it can also destroy a person and leave them in a trance or an emotional standstill.  Regardless of the intent of the critic, i believe that the final effects of criticism, positive or negative, is totally dependent on the person who is being criticized and how they perceive it, as well as how they handle this.  

There are several types of criticisms including constructive criticism and destructive criticisms; though very different in terms of delivery and intent, the out come is solely dependent on the persona and not the critique itself.  

Constructive criticism is a genuine  well meant critique intended to help someone, while destructive criticism is often intended to destroy the person being criticized; also destructive criticism directed to others allow the critic to feel superior or better about themselves by putting others down.

For a person that is strong emotionally and mentally in balance criticism in general should should not pose a problem as one can view this whether good or bad , in a positive light . One that receives negative or destructive criticism can use this as motivation to prove the critic wrong or in some cases identify where corrections can be made if they were not able to see this before, hence taking a positive approach and solving a negative problem.

Also if one thinks about it long enough, if a critique is intended to "bring you down", then one must be doing something right or there must be the potential to do great things, otherwise "why waste fuel on a train that no longer runs on a track".

According to the Utah State University sites in Handling Criticisms, Criticism is constructive when the person doing the criticizing is motivated by the desire to help and provides solid suggestions for change. Despite the nature of criticism the final results are shaped by the individual and how they see the glass half full or half empty.

For those of us who are victims of destructive criticism always remember that you are the one that decides your fate and if a critic decides to help by identifying the problem that's just less work for you on your path to change or revelation. And for those of us who encourage and motivate from a genuine place , it takes a beautiful person to see the beauty in someone else, so thumbs  up!