Do you find it hard to accept correction from your parents, teachers, and other adults? A lot of people do, and there are quite a number of reasons why accepting correction is difficult. When someone gives you correction, that person is basically telling you that you’re doing something wrong, and that might not be an easy pill to swallow. It can feel like an attack on your ego or pride. But everyone needs correction. There’s nothing shameful about needing to be corrected when you do something wrong. Correction is essential for growth. It gives you insight into how you are perceived by others and helps you to curb negative traits that you may not even know you have developed. What can you do to accept correction?
Look at the Matter Objectively
You might be inclined to take offence at the criticism. But try to put your feelings aside. To help you do that, take yourself out of the situation for a moment and imagine that you are giving the same correction to someone else. Now put yourself back into the situation and try to view the matter the same way.
A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.
Stay Humble
Do not let pride cause you to reject the criticism. On the other hand, do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed with discouragement just because you have something to work on. Humility will help you to avoid either extreme. Remember: The correction that hurts the most may be the correction that you need the most. If, for whatever reason, you reject it, you miss out on a valuable opportunity to grow.
An error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it
Be Thankful
Even if you find the criticism difficult to accept, why not express your gratitude to the person who gave it? Undoubtedly, that person has your best interests at heart and truly wants you to succeed.
Moving Forward
Once you have accepted that criticism with grace, it is time to move forward with the correction in mind. If that correction is a good one to implement, then you should take steps to add the change into your life. No one in this world is perfect, so just remember that constructive criticism you receive is not personal. The criticism worth listening to comes from the people looking out for your well-being.
