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Abeiku Okai
Pastor and Counselor
(+233) 0249287855
Reflecting on my years as a pastor and leader, I’ve realized that one of my major missteps was giving too much weight to critics. Unfortunately, this realisation came too late – critics, I learned, aren’t genuinely invested in your well-being; they’re primarily concerned with their own interests, agendas, and egos. Often posing as champions of truth or experts advisers, they’re actually hidden adversaries, waiting to hinder your progress with their sharp critiques.
Many leaders have fallen victim to the damaging effects of critics, seeing their reputations tarnished and their influence eroded. Criticism can shake people’s faith and undermine their confidence. Even genuine accomplishments and experiences can be unfairly disparaged by relentless critics. Additionally, relationships built on love and loyalty can be gradually eroded by these folks. They are ruthless wordcrafters and ply their trade for vainglory.
Critics come in two forms: those who offer genuinely constructive feedback and those who simply seek to tear down without justification. Defined as “a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion,” critics encompass both constructive and destructive criticism.
A critical spirit often stems from motives such as spite, hate, jealousy, or misunderstanding, devoid of any genuine desire for your improvement. Instead, it serves to inflate their insatiable ego, fueling their need to assert superiority over you.
While critics may occasionally have valid points, their correctness can be wielded as a weapon to hinder your growth. They often exploit your weaknesses and mistakes to garner support from others and turn your allies against you.
Critics are omnipresent, found within families, institutions, associations, religious organisations, political parties, and especially prevalent on social media – thriving wherever people gather and interact. They can be your superiors, subordinates, colleagues, or even complete strangers or persons with whom you have no direct connection.
Therefore, while completely avoiding critics is unrealistic, acknowledging their presence without allowing their negativity to dominate your path is crucial. Rather than absorbing their destructive criticism, carefully evaluate it through a lens of discernment. This allows you to extract valuable insights while discarding the rest, empowering you to continue your journey with clarity and resilience.
It’s essential to distinguish between constructive criticism, which fosters growth, and destructive criticism, which aims to undermine you. By discerning between the two, you can embrace feedback that facilitates progress while rejecting harmful commentary.
By remaining grounded in your mission and purpose, you can navigate through criticism with resilience and grace. Remember, critics may never be satisfied, but your dedication to growth and self-improvement will ultimately prevail.
16.04.2024