philosophy

New Method 23 | Separate Constructive Criticism from Personal Attacks

Sharmadean Reid

06 Jun 2025 — 2 min read

This is your weekly affirmation to help you build your personal philosophy. Have a great weekend!

Take a deep breathe in...and say it with me...

We have been in a state of perpetual victimhood for thousands of years, and sometimes we like to keep ourselves there by taking external verbal attacks as gospel. Instead, we turn away from the trolls and move towards constructive criticism from valued sources. We learn how to sort this criticism from personal attacks and use active listening to get to the root of what someone is trying to say about our person. Criticism can be a blessing if we use it wisely.

Actions

Pause and Assess: When criticised, ask yourself, “Is this feedback constructive or just a projection?” Watch Brene Brown: The Call to Courage on Netflix to learn about vulnerability and criticism.
Filter the Source: Only consider criticism from people whose opinions you value and respect. Reflect on advice from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, especially “Don’t take anything personally.”
Turn Criticism into Growth: Reframe constructive feedback into actionable steps—write down one improvement you can make.

Read the full essay and 48 other lessons for how to take control of your life in my book New Methods For Women. Already got your copy? Gift it to the woman in your life who you want to see win.

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Missed the previous affirmations? You can read them all here for free. Have a great weekend!

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