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The Crystal Ball of Truth

Self Criticism

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could look inside a crystal ball and view for ourselves the reality of how little truth our self criticism holds? The things we critique are things most don’t even notice. 

A couple of days ago I participated in something pretty far out of my comfort zone. I was asked to be a part of an online summit that will be launching in April and it required me to be interviewed. 

Easy right?

Right. Except for this interview was going to take place on video. Now let me get one thing straight. I can write until I am blue in the face, and I can speak in public all day long, but when I have to watch myself back; it brings a whole new level of self criticism. 

Some of the things I had to remind myself of through this process include the following:

1. We are all our own worst critique. 

We all do it. Sometimes it’s so hard to refrain from it as it comes so naturally to many of us. Most people get irritated by the way they sound or the way they look. Coming from an industry where we often had to play back interviews and audio recordings I often heard the following from the majority of my colleagues:

“Is that really what I sound like?” 

Yes. Yes it is. And you know what? You sound great. 

We all critique these little things and when I first watched back my interview I was instantly embarrassed by my multiple chins and chubby face that has crept up even more so since being pregnant. Do I really look like that? But the more I watched it the more I felt my own vulnerability and I instantly felt proud. It was my very first online video interview. Why should mine be perfect?

2. Your story matters.

Everyone has a story, and I am here to tell you noone’s story is better or more significant than anyone else’s.

YOUR story matters no matter how insignificant you might think it is. If you meet someone who takes away from your story by saying their’s is more difficult or more significant, please listen up;

STOP talking to them. 

I think sometimes people compete and forget that we were all given one life and in this life we were given a story and each and everyone of them matters in some way, shape or form. It is no one else’s right to diminish yours.

SHARE YOUR STORY and for those who don’t like it or think it’s insignificant; well chances are,  your story wasn’t meant for them. I promise you however, there is someone who is meant to hear it and they will appreciate it more than you know. 

I was desperate for other stories of those who lived through what I lived through and there are people out there who will feel the same way about you.

3. Others opinions carry very little weight in most cases. 

Remember this.

We all need people in our corner and we all need people who are going to give us constructive criticism and guidance. Make sure you put some real thought into who these people are going to be for you.

Do these people genuinely want whats best for you?

Have they done what you are trying to do?

Will there opinion help you or deplete you? 

These are all important questions because often times people will mean well, but at the same time will offer advice based on their own fears which can be very damaging for the person on the receiving end. Please select those you trust and who you know will not only offer you advice and opinion, but they will also take time to offer you support and encouragement. 

After my interview I had to dig deep and remind myself why allowing this interview to go live was so important regardless of how I felt about it. I had the most amazing woman supporting me and she reminded me that we all critique ourselves. She encouraged me and offered me great advice. This is so important. 

I hope you are all having an amazing spring so far and I welcome you to share with me at any time some of the current fears you have. 

What are some of the things you aren’t doing because you are simply too scared? Let me know, I would love to hear. 

<3 Meg