The Hard Truth

I've got thin skin. I try to let things roll off my back, but I just can't. I care about what other people think about me. I'm concerned about how they judge my work. I suffer every insult, agonize over every error, sulk about every failure and fume over every negative comment.

Those are not exactly the best traits for someone in my line of work, but that's just who I am.

Of course, I'm also a glutton for punishment because I want need to know all those things.

Look, it's not difficult to surround yourself with people who won't tell you about your fallacies. It's natural for friends and loved ones to dismiss your critics as bitter trolls. It really would be easier to just ignore the criticism and move on. In doing so, though, I believe I would be doing myself a disservice.

Criticism is a necessary evil. It reminds us that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes.



Of course, I'm not referring to empty criticism, the type fueled by malevolent, anonymous comments or snarky posts. But honest criticism, the type that strikes a chord with us because at some level it's true. It's unpleasant to come to grips with our own weaknesses — it's a hard truth. To understand those weaknesses, though, helps us conquer them.

If you have a friend or colleague willing to be honest with you about your shortcomings, don't take it as a negative. Use it as a positive.

I'm trying to do just that.

So I continue to read every negative comment, review every snarky posting, listen to every naysayer and try to sift through them all to determine which ones actually could help me be a better person, better father, better husband, better journalist, better manager and better friend.

I definitely need to work to improve in all those areas.

As torturous as it may be at times, I think it's worth it.