How do you handle criticism?

Short answer? Not well.

If you’re like me, you go through all the grief stages: sadness, anger, etc. Some people handle criticism like a ninja: gracefully and expertly. Most of the rest of us are terrible at receiving and responding to criticism. (If you’re unsure, ask those closest to you how they think you handle criticism.)

Is there a better way?

In his book Today We Are Rich: Harnessing the Power of Total Confidence, Tim Sanders* shares a method he was taught as a young man. Criticism is like a walnut. Eat any of the meat that is in there and throw out the shell.

This presumes that there is probably a little (or a lot) of truth in any criticism, if we are open enough to listen to it, receive it, and make course corrections.

But this meat is often wrapped and delivered in a very tough shell. We’re not supposed to eat the walnut shell. That would be dumb.

Once in a while we receive criticism that is all meat. (These are your friends.) And once in a while we receive criticism that is all shell. (These are not.) Most times, it’s a little of both.

Eat the good stuff; throw away the shell.

*I’m 90% sure this is where I got this insight. If I’m incorrect, please let me know.