The
world is made up of all kinds of individuals. And try as much as we want, we
cannot please everyone and we cannot control the opinions and reactions of
others. At the same time, none of us are perfect. Intentionally or
unintentionally, we make mistakes. Sometimes we realise the error of our ways,
sometimes we do not - until someone points it out. And then our defensive
mechanism kicks in! The mind gets agitated, the emotions spin out of control
and we lose our composure and focus.
The
word criticism, unfortunately, has got pegged to unwanted or unfavourable
feedback. This is far from the truth. Criticism can also be constructive and
healthy. However, the perception of negativity with regards to criticism is so
strong that we miss seeing the positivity and learning that may exist in the
feedback we receive. How do we break this emotional reaction? How do we prevent
ourselves from getting swayed by our emotions?
The
Bhagawad Gita gives us many insights on how to handle criticism. Here are some
of them:
1. Practice detachment of results: We often look for validation or approval of our
actions from people around us. This emotional attachment leads to expectations
and when these are not met, we become upset. The Gita tells us to act in the
present and not get attached to the results. Only then will our mind be able to
stay calm in all situations – good and bad.
2. See criticism as an opportunity for growth: Criticism affects us only when we see it as a
personal attack. If we change our perspective to view it as a lesson to be
learnt or a chance to improve ourselves, there will be no emotional outburst at
our end.
3. Don’t take things personally: In situations where we know we are not at fault,
understand that the criticism reflects the speaker’s inner state of mind rather
than a judgement about us. We should continue with the work we are doing and
not become a casualty or someone else’s issues.
4. Don’t react, respond: As we move ourselves away from emotional outbursts, we learn to look
at situations and people more objectively. When our mind is calm, we will
pause, think more clearly, reflect on our actions and then respond, if
necessary. Sometimes, staying silent or responding with grace empathy is far
more effective than reacting or retorting.
5. Grow internally:
Spiritual knowledge and practices help us become stronger internally. We are
able to identify our strengths and shortcomings more clearly and can build a
life based on integrity, values, gratitude and discipline. We no longer need
external validations to define our worth.
In a world filled with
noise and opinions, especially on social media, criticism has no filters. Only
when we develop the ability to rise above our individual ego, will we be able
to embrace positive and negative feedback with a calm mind.
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमना:
सुखेषु विगतस्पृह:।
वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥ 2.56
He who is not disturbed by distress and is not elated by happiness, who is free
from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
The writing is on the
wall. But the effort must come from us. The world around us may not change but we
will always have the power to learn and grow from what the world throws at us.
Author: Radhika Jesrani
For more thoughts like these, join us for an engaging talk series by Swamini Vimalananda, Chinmaya Mission from 4th to 6th November 2026 at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Chowpatty, Mumbai!
You can view Swaminiji’s talks / sessions on her Youtube Channel — Best of Swamini Vimalananda
Entry is free but please scan the above QR code or click on https://tinyurl.com/mantrasmumbai to register for the talks!
Follow Inner Compass here and please also share these posts with your family and friends! 🙏
Comments
Post a Comment