Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.
– Frank A. Clark
I think true constructive criticism might be a lost art. People will tell you all day long what you are doing wrong; however, typically, they don’t do it from a place of trying to better you. It seems people do it nowadays just to get their jollies.
Of course, I am not a saintly beast. I make the same mistake; however, lately, when I think of offering criticism I ask myself why.
Why am I offering the criticism?
Why here and now?
Why do I even care?
If after answering these questions, I learn that I really do want to help, then I think about how I would want to hear the advice. Yes, I still adhere to the advice my mother taught me.
Treat people how you wish to be treated, or if you like people being an ass to you, treat people like you would want them to treat someone you care about.
If you want to point out someone else’s mistakes because it makes you happy to pull other people down, you might want to take a good look at your life.
