Earlier this week, I talked about how occasionally (okay, a lot of the time!) I let negative feedback steal away my energy and excitement for whatever task I’m working on. It’s SO easy to believe the bad stuff and let one comment make you feel like you aren’t good at something. A lot of times, these comments stick with me because I probably already knew whatever I did wasn’t great but it’s more hurtful to hear it from someone else and much easier to let it pain me than be something useful (because it’s easier to do that than work harder or change something, right?). But I promise you, no matter how hard that habit is to break, it’s pivotal that you do break it! It’s a hard mindset to get out of, but here’s some of the ways I try to take this negative feedback and make it into something positive!

Look at it as a chance to grow. People don’t say something negative or critical to be mean (in most cases). They do it to help you grow – to make you better. Take this opportunity to use the feedback and make your work better. You don’t have to agree 100% with them, but use this as an opportunity to take another look at your work + then use it to make the changes you believe need to happen!

Understand that one bad critique does not mean you’re not able to do your job. This is one that’s hard for me. I have to work really hard to remember that one person saying I was flat once or my lighting could have been better or that my cupcakes were dry does NOT mean that I am not capable of doing these things. One bad review does not and should not be allowed to ruin you. So don’t let it. Again, take the feedback and use it to grow – maybe I should warm up more next time, or check out my location/be more forceful about the time of day or maybe I should make sure I put enough wet ingredients and didn’t over bake my cupcake next time. But I should never stop doing something I love because of ONE comment.

Follow your heart. At the end of the day, you know what’s best for you. If that’s taking pictures or baking or whatever – despite the negative feedback, work hard. Work even harder, actually, for what you want. Don’t let someone have the power to take away what your heart is set on through a few negative words.

Take it, soak it in and let it go. Feedback of any kind is meant to help you grow. But if you dwell on it and let it fester, then you’re not growing, are you? You’re sulking. You’re stalling. Let this feedback or comment or critique be what pushes you to the next level but don’t let it hold you back. Let it be part of the process, not the destination.

Honestly, being able to take this kind of feedback and do something positive with it takes courage, strength and hard work. It requires you to believe in yourself and to make sure you’re not letting anyone else in your life have the power over you to change your dreams. I don’t think this is a process that anyone is suddenly perfect at. These kinds of shifts in mentality take time – so give yourself a break and just remember to use negativity to fuel your positivity, to fuel dreams and goals. I promise you, you have this. Don’t let one person stop you from changing the world.

xoxo

Kristina