~ CRITICISM ~
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To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard
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For so many years, I thought I was the
only kid who had been raised with
criticism. Fear of criticism is one of
the reasons I walked on eggshells at
home. I learned to fear success in
anything and everything. If I could only
be "middle of the road," maybe no one
would notice me and I wouldn't have to
deal with criticism. I did what I had to
do to survive.
As I grew older, I received constructive
criticism by wise people, but sadly, I
didn't know how to utilize such a
gift. It hurt me, and I turned away from
well-meaning people. I rebelled against
their advice.
The program has taught me that all
criticism is not bad. I never thought a
day would come where I was comfortable
with it. I recently took a
correspondence course to help me with my
work, and naturally the instructor had
to critique my work. I worried about
that before I took the course. In fact,
I'd wanted to take that class for years,
but had not been able to handle the cold
fear that stabbed at me when I looked at
the application. I finished the class
last month. There was much criticism to
help me to learn, and I didn't shrink
from it. I learned from it. It's all in
the attitude.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will pray to remember I have choices. I will pray to keep my attitude in a good place so that I might see all the opportunities available to me.