Constructive Stuff!

"Never let anyone dull your shine" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Futurist Jim Carroll is writing a series, “25 Things I’ve Learned That Will Carry Me Into 2025.” He is putting this together based on his 30-year career as a futurist, trends, and innovation expert, advising leaders of some of the world’s most prestigious organizations on how to align to a faster future. He intends for the series to provide valuable guidance to others eager to learn how to move through a year that promises to be volatile, unpredictable, and full of uncertainty. Each day, the post will go out on multiple mailing lists, social media networks, and to the Website https://2025inspiration.jimcarroll.com

Ignore the critics!

Or at least, the ones. who don't offer any insight of substance.

That's something I will continue to do into 2025, and as we barrel into a year that promises to be unlike many others, it's something you should consider too.

Let me share something I've learned about dealing with criticism throughout my career - take in the good criticism, and ignore the other stuff! It's fascinating how good criticism - honest insight that can hide valuable wisdom, even when it doesn't feel that way - can help to move you forward. At the same time, it's stunning how easily it is for us to take in and internalize the hateful, agenda-oriented, anger-driven barbs that you might get along the way - and which cause us real damage.

Always keep in mind that you are always dealing with two types of critics. Some will share harsh feedback that contains insight that can help us grow. At the same time, others will share criticism that should be ignored, because it's agenda-oriented, or is driven by fear, jealousy, or other emotions. The key is learning the art of knowing which is which, and that's the key: you need to be selective about which criticism you take to heart.

Over the years, I've watched too many talented people get derailed by letting others' opinions overshadow their vision, ideas, and beliefs. I also know that I've often taken too much criticism to heart when I shouldn't have - as someone who spends time on a stage as a key part of their work, I've often had to learn the hard way how to take in what matters and ignore the rest!

Here's the key thing that I've learned and what I've noticed about innovators and change-makers, don't take it to heart. Often they are criticizing change, and not you. That's because if you're doing something truly groundbreaking, criticism is almost inevitable. Why? Because you're challenging the status quo, and that makes some people uncomfortable. Often, they won't know how to react and will lash out because you represent the thing they fear the most - change.  But here's my advice: don't waste energy arguing with them - often, there is absolutely no upside. Accept their fear for who they are, and move on.

Another key way to manage criticism is to avoid the critics who offer useless critical insight!  One of the most important lessons I've learned is about the people you surround yourself with. I cannot stress this enough – find those who lift you, rather than those who will drag you down. Spend time with those who see possibilities where others see problems. These are the people who will help you maintain that crucial positive mindset that drives creativity and innovation forward. You'll also find a huge difference between the constructive criticism they might offer vs. the destructive criticism of others.

This has become particularly important in the often toxic world which has become a core part of some social networks. Voyage into the sludge. that is Twitter or X or whatever it's called with a positive message, and you will soon be subjected to the scorn and criticism of those who seem to take joy in offering up a regular stream of hateful criticism. Most of it is useless in terms of being something to build upon. There's no upside - none - so why bother?

You should also put the issue of criticism into the light of science. Studies on the idea of defensive processing" found that people who maintain a strong sense of self-worth are better able to process criticism constructively, rather than needing to ignore it completely. That's because they excel at the idea of how to use criticism to their advantage. Think of criticism this way - your self-identity is a skyscraper. Each floor represents a different aspect of who you are - your professional abilities, your relationships, and your creative talents.

What the research found is ts that when you keep the whole building strong and well-maintained, a crack in one floor doesn't threaten the entire structure. You become better equipped to repair that crack because you're not afraid the whole building will collapse. Overall, the study found that we can condition ourselves to easily manage criticism and turn it into a strength.

The core conclusion was that when people took a moment to reflect on what truly mattered to them - their deep personal values, their meaningful relationships, their core strengths - they didn't just survive criticism; they thrived on it!

Remember, your unique perspective and talents are exactly what we need in this rapidly changing world. Don't let anyone's criticism dim that light.

I've seen too many brilliant ideas never reach their potential because someone listened to the wrong voices.

Futurist Jim Carroll used to obsess over every single review on the feedback forms of his keynotes. Then, he came to realize that as a futurist who focuses on change, his audience contains some people who simply don’t like him or his message, simply because of what he represents!

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