In one of his podcast series, Eric Maisel notes “Criticism is a real crippler. I’m sure that you know that. But you may not be aware just how powerful a negative force criticism can be, how much damage it can do to your self-confidence, or how seriously it can deflect you from your path.

“Almost nothing does more psychological damage than criticism.

“Criticism comes at us from the past, as bad memories and as our own introjected ‘inner critic.’ It comes at us every day, at work and at home. It even colors our sense of the future.

“Some of it is minor and only ruffles our feathers a little bit. But a surprising amount of it is toxic, as bad for our system as any poison.”

Continued in his article Introducing Toxic Criticism.

This sort of “poison” can also come from our own minds. Healthy criticism can help refine our talents and creative projects in the pursuit of excellence. But when it is based on excessive perfectionism or an unrealistic self concept, criticism of ourselves can be destructive and self-limiting, eroding our creative assurance and vitality.

Highly creative and talented people are often susceptible to perfectionism and unreasonably high standards and expectations that can lead to this exaggerated criticism.

From my article Being Creative and Self-critical.

Image: Anton Ego, the food critic in the movie “Ratatouille.”

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eric maisel on toxic criticism, inner critic, self confidence, negative self concept, pursuit of excellence,developing creativity

04.12.08 |
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