Why You Don’t Have to Fear Judgment

By Marcia Sirota MD

I talk to people all the time about their fears of being harshly judged. A number of people say that they won’t try anything new unless they’re assured of success, for fear of being criticized for not doing it as well as they “should.” Judgment leaves people feeling so uncomfortable with critical feedback that they reject all of it, even when it’s meant to help them do better.

While it’s true that we’re living in a hyper-critical world, where people are free to bash each other online, on TV, on the radio, or in the printed press, it is important to step back and gain some perspective on all the critics out there.

We should remember that there are two types of criticism: constructive and destructive. Reasonable people who have something of value to tell us will make a point of doing so in a way that we can let in. Their intention is to be helpful, so they offer their feedback politely, kindly and respectfully…