Do What You Feel In Your Heart Is Right
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.”― Eleanor Roosevelt 🏋️♀️
On the surface, this can come off as an empty platitude, but there are voices who will criticize many things in your life. Think of the people who have given you that 'look' or a 'hmmm' or a statement of outright disapproval.
Your Family 👪 may have expressed concern about starting your own business or taking that new job or moving to a new location.
Your Friends 😬 may have disapproved of a potential life parter or a recent change in your life.
Your Boss 👔 may have given pause to a passionate side project that you've taken on.
Your Random Internet Friend 🌐 may have posted a comment challenging your views on any number of hot topics in our world right now.
Do you crumble under the weight of someone's criticism or disapproval? Or, do you find yourself so triggered that your emotions run hot for hours (or even days) after the interaction?
Here's a process that may be helpful...
See the criticism as simply information. Can you take a step back and allow the heat to dissipate? Can you see or hear what the other person is trying to communicate? I love to help my business growth client say, "Oh, isn't that interesting..." to create some space and curiosity around whatever information has just been shared.
Listen for the wisdom. Ask yourself, "Is there any wisdom that can be gained from this information?" The person may have delivered the information in a way that was awkward or even painful, but there may be a small bit of wisdom about your life, about them, or about the world that you can gain.
Allow their agenda to pass by. Intermingled with the information is often an agenda that the person has for you and your life. They want you to behave or feel or respond in a certain way, and when you don't, that's when the criticism arises. Be aware of that agenda, see their positive attention, but allow it to pass on by.
Passionately move forward. Ultimately, you have to be the one to take responsibility for you life, career, and business. After taking in the wisdom, you can do what you feel is right in your heart. If it doesn't go as planned and someone else warned you, that's okay. You're learning, right? We're all learning along the way.