Treat Criticism Like a Hat and “try It On” Before Rejecting It
When someone criticizes you, your first desire is almost always to throw it away. Haters will hate, right? Except that sometimes even the haters are right . Before ignoring criticism, writer Seth Godin suggests giving it a try to see if their advice suits you.
As Godin points out, default neglect leads to many good advice being ignored in the long run. Instead of wasting your energy explaining why they are wrong, or worse, explaining their mistakes in detail, give it a try. Imagine things from a different perspective. If it’s something simple, try doing it before you ignore it.
When a friend says, “You would look good with a hat,” it’s unproductive to think that she just told you that you look lousy without a hat, and that then you have to explain why you never wear a hat, and be offended by the fact that she thinks you always look terrible. Nope. Try on your hat. Just try on your hat. Wear a jacket that matches your hat. Wear a hat. Take some pictures of yourself wearing the hat. Then, if you want, of course, stop wearing hats.
Not all tips can be applied right away – for example, trying a new food is easier than making a career change – but if the tip is something you can do, it doesn’t hurt to try it. If it’s anything more challenging or ambitious, at least take a moment to imagine your life if you followed the advice. Would you be happy if you changed what your critic is suggesting? One thought experiment may be enough to open your mind to better thinking.
Advice or criticism? | Seth Godin