The Power of Constructive Criticism

I want to talk to you about the power of good constructive criticism, and but most importantly how YOU can use it in YOUR life too. I will give you a lifetime example. I love life stories.

We just came back from our annual Golden Lake Wellness retreat. At the end of our time together, we asked participants to give us their feedback. We wanted to  know what we did right and what we could do better, or what we didn’t do at all.

You may say it’s an event, so it is common to collect some form of feedbacks. And I will tell you – NO- it does not have to be only about business – this is an ability to listen.

And this is what we all can benefit from – on all levels – in your personal life, in your intimate relationship, in parenting, in connection with your relatives, your siblings, your friends.

I am not telling you to give your partner a form to fill out – How did I do last night?

I am saying is to apply this model in your day-to-day life – be prepared and ask specific questions, find the right moment and find the right time – BUT ASK and LISTEN. BE SPECIFIC. Help other people to help you.

We prepared a form where we asked about different things:

How was your reception, registration, program details? What about your accommodation. We asked about food but not just in general; we helped people to remember their experience. Was food quality ok? What about variety, what about meal serving? Timing? etc.

BE SPECIFIC.

So much miscommunication is going on and so much energy we waste on hinting, going around the subject, reading some signals, asking other people opinions.

I say go DIRECT. Ask yourself, ask your higher self if you want a higher perspective, ask that person, don’t ask other people what they think, how he/she might think and answer. Recap OUR RULES

1. BE WILLING TO GROW (You only compare YOU with YOU)

2. BE PREPARED and SPECIFIC.

3. ASK DIRECT

4. LISTEN, BE OPEN

5. BE SELECTIVE

6. APPLY TO YOUR BENEFIT (You don’t apply to please someone) Sometimes what you do will

please others – so to speak to the benefit of all. But it does not have to.

With our retreat, if the recommendation is aligned with our mission of servicing others in terms of mindfulness, functional movements, developing intuition, staying present, building connections – than absolutely. If it is outside of our scope or it is entirely different direction – don’t worry about it.

Now your homework, PRACTICE WITHIN YOUR IMMEDIATE CIRCLE

When you talk to your friends, siblings, parents just come up with some questions that help you to look at yourself from their perspective and be open, specific, selective, and do closure – apply to your benefit.