Encourage: Meant For Goals
Last week I wrote about feedback.(Feedback Flourish) Actually, how to respond to feedback. Feedback is as powerful as you let it be. It can be harsh, constructive, or even very good but if you give it more credit than it’s worth then you might miss lose focus of the main goal.
Goals are also better guides than destinations. They make wonderful landmarks along the journey and help steer us as we embark to the next goal. Using feedback can be great motivation. It can also be discouraging. Taking the less encouraging feedback into account while not letting it interrupt the journey towards a goal – or goals – is challenging.
It can be hard to take negative feedback and turn into a positive learning experience. I think that is one of the hardest things to do. Pulling ourselves up with our bootstraps takes courage. It takes thought, too. However, to move forward and learn from feedback is worth it because you understand more about your situation. Feedback isn’t always from another person; it can be from you to you. You have to learn not to be hard on yourself but also don’t dismiss feedback just because it isn’t what you want it to be. It will be, it just takes practice.
This is one of the areas that can be difficult for many people, including myself. I would love to hear suggestions on how you keep moving toward a goal when you get discouraged. I think one of the best ways to keep encouraging myself is to sometimes step back and encourage somebody else with their goal. I could use the boost, write to me! -ed
When I really really want to reach a goal, I frequently focus on that goal and I visualize myself reaching it. Making myself think that I will reach a goal and not allowing myself to think there is any other option works for me. But if I get distracted or lose focus, I’m out for the count.
Keep at this. Negative feedback can be very discouraging, but you always have to consider the source and the message behind it. Even in the worst criticism from your worst critic is something useful to learn from. One other point, too – most often, you are your own worst critic. Learn from your own criticism, too.
.-= David´s last blog ..Predictions for telecommuting in 2012 =-.
I believe that if negative feedback really upsets you, then it might be because it has some truth to it that you don’t want to accept. However, the truth may not always be black and white. Maybe someone criticizes a painting that you made, and you let it upset you. Art is very subjective, and the truth to it may be that “You can’t please everyone”.
As long as feedback has the power to get under our skin, we still have room to grow. If you feel that you aren’t getting the type of feedback that you need, a good thing to do is to pay it forward. Get ahold of people you know, and offer some praise for them, and truly mean what you say. Get yourself into that positive mindset, and be willing to spread it around, and before you know it, people will return the favor.
.-= Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment´s last blog ..Why I Love Game Shows =-.