Hey readers, I know it’s getting tough but we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. With only a few more weeks of school left, the pressure of exams and the excitement of the summer are both becoming very real. With all the midterms, papers and projects, all of us are dealing with negative feedback. Whether it’s your best friend’s opinion on your outfit or your English 135 prof reviewing the first draft of your final paper, feedback can always be tough to receive. Often, we’ll devote so much effort into a project that we don’t know what to do when it doesn’t get the praise we had hoped for. In any situation, the first step is to ask:
Is this constructive criticism or is it just plain mean?
I like to think that most people have good intentions and would only give you negative feedback to inspire you to do better but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes your neighbour will tell you they don’t like your haircut because they’re in a bad mood or they’ve had a long day. If this is the case, don’t take it to heart. If they’re not trying to help, there’s really nothing you can do except ignore it and keep doing you. If it is constructive criticism ask:
Do I agree with it?
Maybe your teacher thinks your essay topic is overdone. Now it’s time to decide whether or not you agree. If you don’t, try talking to your prof and explain why you chose it in the first place. Find a new angle to bring to the discussion and tell it from your perspective. Just because someone gives you feedback, doesn’t mean you have to take it. With that in mind, your prof is probably helping you. Often, others will have more experience than you in a certain field and it really helps to listen to their suggestions. Find out why they gave you the feedback and how you can use it to make positive improvements. The most important thing to remember is that:
Negative feedback is not a reflection of your character or the effort you have given.
A bad grade doesn’t mean you didn’t try hard enough, it means you need more help. When your friend tells you that you should eat healthier it doesn’t mean you’re irresponsible, it means they care about you. At the end of the day, nobody can tell you how to live your life. If you are confident in your choices and happy with their outcomes, no one can take that away from you. However, life is all about learning and growing, neither of which can be achieved without getting feedback from others. There’s never any shame in admitting you were wrong and trying again. See every mistake as a chance to grow rather than a failure. In order to maintain positive mental health, remember that every piece of negative feedback is an opportunity to become better. If you ever feel frustrated with some constructive criticism and need a reminder, feel free to refer to the flow chart below.
Thanks for reading folks, hope this helped. Good luck with the next few months!
Lots of love,
Malaika
The views expressed in this blog are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the University of Victoria. I monitor posts and comments to ensure all content complies with the University of Victoria Guidelines on Blogging.