I THANK ALL MY CRITICS

I Thank all my Critics

I am a huge fan of Bollywood and I grew up watching a lot of Indian Films Awards Ceremonies. If you have watched some of these ceremonies, you would have heard this sentence: ‘ I thank all my Critics”. I often wondered as to how can criticism be a motivating factor in any one’s life. I am sure you would have stumbled upon criticism in your life. Give it a thought, has it motivated you more than a praise?

A core psychological phrase- praise more than criticize- may be inflated. Studies show that criticism can be even more powerful motivator. Let me quote some examples  here: famous Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachhan was criticized for his heavy voice and today industry pays millions to him just for lending his voice in a movie. Another Bollywood movie star Shah Rukh Khan was criticized saying, he wouldn’t be a great actor as he doesn’t look romantic. Well, he is the king of Romance of Indian Film Industry.  University of Exeter study found that criticism or taunting from opposing fans make players play better. A praise can motivate you, but when you are told you are not worthy, or you can’t, it will most definitely spark up a desire to prove them wrong. This is how a criticism has motivated you. The level to which you run after it differs from person to person and who has criticized you will also determine whether you will take it to the next level or not.

There is a school of thought that also suggests to not to pay attention to critics as they will always have something to say, and one cannot waste their life in keep proving them wrong. I totally agree to this school of thought, but I am sure you all would agree that whether we like it or not those taunting words of our critics do stay in our subconscious. Let’s listen to those words, they are not the words of random people, they are the words of your own close circle of people who affect us, and it is human to get affected by the words of people who hold some position in our lives.  We all have become resilient to those random people who pass unsolicited judgement on us. But how do we deal with these critics who come in the face of a friend, a teacher, a relative or a family member. Here’s the answer:

THANK them and be grateful for their existence. Had they not been there, you wouldn’t have reached where you reached. They were the one’s throwing stones at you to make your own path. They were the one’s who made you value love, kindness, friendship, gratitude and support. Had it not been those critics and their well fabricated comments, that we see so many stars rising from ashes.

No matter who you are and which field you are in, when you have a dream, there will be dream crushers. They come as a part and parcel with the dream. Studies show that with everyone person that believes in you, comes, one who does not believe in you and doubt your dreams. Embrace them with grace. Not everyone you meet will not like you, not everyone will think bad of you, not everyone will want to put you down. So, when you meet someone like this, keep them, be grateful as they have also motivated you as much if not more than a praise.

Today, I take this opportunity to THANK ALL MY CRITICS. Had it not been your stones, I wouldn’t have made this path for myself. I thank you for criticizing my bad grades as teachers and fellow students, I wouldn’t have been a University Topper in MBA. Thank you for criticizing me as a weak person, I wouldn’t have shown impeccable strength in my life. Thank you criticizing on my weight, I wouldn’t have led such a healthy lifestyle of working out ever since I was 15. Thank you for criticizing on my choice to leave my career and concentrate on my kids, I wouldn’t have this strong bond with my kids. Thank you for criticizing me as being just a MOM, I couldn’t have realized my own strength that A hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world. Today, after founding Success Surfers I feel like I touch the lives of my students just because I am a MOM and understand them just the way they are.

I do not say that all I am is because of my critics, but these are some important criticism which did make a mark. I am sure you all would have faced such criticism in some way or the other at some point in time. Value it to the extent that it does not crush your self-confidence. If it tries to harpen your confidence, close your eyes and turn deaf to such people. Then they are not true critics.  

Enjoy your critics as much as you value your believers. The people who like you would always take time out for you, but the critics take time out for you even when they don’t like you!!