We dealt with the importance of man’s taking and accepting criticism whatever his criticizer’s attentions are as he may have hideous intentions. However, your insistence would help you to use that comments for your own good. On the other side, the speaker may seek your own good and refusing his criticism will come to your harm. As the saying goes, if God leaves a person, He will let his thoughts take control over him. If a person insists on living his life according to his perspectives only without paying any attention whatsoever to the comments or criticism of others, he will eventually stumble or even miss the road. A person who takes criticism is a broad-minded person and wise enough to read between the lines and understand the hidden meanings and useful points of the criticism or advice he takes. Thus, they say, “You can’t take criticism unless you are broad-minded enough”. If you want to truly take criticism and get use of it, you should separate between the comment and the commenter and what you felt toward his comment. As it is truly shameful that people refuse a comment because they judge the commenter himself. This is the first step of the = road to arrogance and downfall. One should practice listening carefully to the comments said to him or to others and consider them carefully without judging the adviser thus achieves the potential benefits in his life.
Sorts of Criticism:
One should refer to sorts of criticism so as not to ignore some of them but rather to know how to benefit from each sort.
1- Objective Criticism:
It focuses on the subject of criticism not on a specific person or persons and it aims to credibly clarify the merits and demerits in order to improve the work or people who do it. It offers solutions and an earnest intention to help. It is not affected by personal beliefs or desires and is always objective and neutral. Always be open to this sort of criticism as not so many people are able to stay neutral or keep their personal emotions away from their judgment. One recalls a story about a good, just and rich man who did good deeds all the time and lived long time ago. During one of his journeys, he passed by a slaves’ auction and he was so sad for them that he bought them all to liberate them. The rich man’s son loved one of the girls who was bought in the auction and he wanted to marry her, the girl agreed for the sake of his father’s generosity, but she was so sad. He also notice that one of the male salves he liberated was so sad and when he asked him about that, he answered that he loved the girl and they vowed to marry each other; but they couldn’t broke the man’s heart for his favor with them. When the man knew that, he told his son. In return the son didn’t want to build his happiness on someone else’s pain and he agreed with his father to prepare for the girl and the boy’s wedding. One may say this is an imaginary story and there is no such thing nowadays, however, There are a lot of people whose hearts are full of love, mercy and justice as they put God’s love and justice in mind…. To be continued….
Anba Ermia,
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
