little criticisms

Dear reader

I'd like to address in this issue something I recently learned.

I think it takes a special kind of situation, and a particular built-up strength or stamina, to handle criticism. Just think of it - someone tells you that you're doing something wrong and you have to respond to it. You can
1. ignore it
2. deny your error
3. submit to reparative action
4. contest the entire thing
5. you get the picture

So what comes next? If the person (boss, friend, lover,..) tells you something very large that incorporates many actions/thoughts/emotions -it is difficult to translate it into a cohesive thoughtful response. For example, it might take you a while to get around to realizing what happened if someone breaks up with you suddenly. On the other hand, if that someone says "Don't do that!" while you are driving on the wrong road side of the road, it's a bit easier to adjust.
What that adds up to is the following: depending on our state of mind, the person saying it, and
the situation our response is very different. In daily life this would mean that a person giving us a kind remark (with some reproach) would have a greater effect if we were ready to hear it - warmed up so to speak.
So my advice, or the recipe, is to give comments gently, in bite size pieces. That way your warm and caring attitude opens up the person (slowly) to receiving a comment or remark about something you'd like them to do differently.

that's it!