6 Practical ways to cope with critical people

Sometimes it can be really hard to cope with negative critical people. Some people just seem to eat, sleep and breathe negativity.

Don’t get me wrong, if the criticism is constructive, you can accept that. But there are some people who are heartlessly determined to tear you down and are just so negative right around the clock.

It doesn’t matter how happy you are, they seem to make it their life’s mission to drain every ounce of joy out of your life if you let them. And if you’re having a tough day it makes it even more difficult to deal with the negativity.

Why Does A Person Always Criticize?

“People that criticize other people are just unhappy with something in their lives and they take the most pathetic measures to make themselves feel better”-unknown

As the quote aptly puts it, people who criticize other people do tend to have an underlying problem. More often than not this usually has to do with their self-esteem that was affected as a young child. This is usually brought on by a close family member or friend.

These things can be hurtful and traumatic. And at such a young age these things can be deep-seated and can leave an unforgettable mark on their lives. This is usually carried over into adult life. By criticizing other people it’s a form of coping mechanism that they use.

But don’t throw your hands in the air and give up. There are some strategies that you can use to cope with these negative critical people. Let’s get to it. 

1. Don’t Be Offended

Nine out of ten times you’re not the one with the problem, they are. These people latch on to negativity as if it is the very air that they breathe. And always see things from a negative point of view.

They’re critical of everything and everyone because it probably gives them a sick sense of accomplishment. Just look at the way they deal with other people, I promise you they’re critical of others too.

So don’t be offended because you’re not the only one they treat that way. Let it go!

2. Pay Attention To What is Being Said

Something to keep in mind is that, the person could be disguising the message. Think about it. Is this critical person sending you a clear message?

Pay attention to what is being said. It could be that your critical friend or acquaintance has no discretion or thoughtfulness at all. Or maybe they just don’t know how to get their point across to you and are not really being nasty and unkind.

Instead of taking it personally, you should look beyond the person speaking and dig deeper into what is being said. If you don’t, then you could lose the chance of getting some priceless information and suggestions.

3. Embrace The Criticism

Take the opinions for what they are as a basis of genuine, candid and frank criticism. The thing with these negatively critical people is that they tend to call things as it is. No matter how hurtful it is, they don’t sugar coat their remarks.

Look beyond the harshness of the words that have escaped their lips and dig deep to see if you can find any truth in it.

You might be surprised to find that there are nuggets that you can take away that will shake things up a bit and will have a positive impact. In that, it can allow you to change the way you do things and ultimately lead to self-improvement.

4. Face The Uneasiness Head On

If you’re not strong, heck even if you are,  most of the time negative criticism can make you feel like crap. Sometimes you have to try to see your uneasiness as another gold mine of information and try to figure out the meaning of everything that was said.

Does the negative opinions stir up an awareness deep within you?

Maybe in the back of your mind, it reminds you of something that happened in the past. Or maybe the negative connotation in the criticism might have an element of truth to it. Tackle your uneasiness and identify what it’s telling you.

5. If You Can’t Handle It Don’t Ask

In some instances, it’s up to you to choose. If you don’t like to be criticized, then don’t ask. Don’t get into situations where you can’t escape being criticized by negative people.

Don’t run that risk and leave yourself at the mercy of these people by asking their opinion or suggestions on anything.  There is no way that they’re going to change to suit you.

So it doesn’t make sense for you to get into any type of discussion or even small talk with them. Don’t breathe a word. They’ll put a damper on anything even if it is something positive. You know they’re not down for any type of positivity. It won’t get you anywhere but will leave you feeling miserable.

6. Stay Clear

Don’t ever feel that you cannot escape from this negativity that is being spewed from their mouths and being dished out all day long.

Here’s the thing, you do have an option not to be a part of this and not to be stifled. Totally Forget these people and Stay completely clear of them. 

If it can’t be avoided and you have to be in communication with negative critical people, maybe on your job just be kind and cooperative but don’t get involved or entangled with them otherwise.

How To Live With Critical People

Unless you like to torture yourself negative critical people are not the ones you want to hang around, that’s for sure. But sometimes this can’t be avoided because unfortunately, you might live with them. So how do you live with a critical person? This is not an easy undertaking. And It can be downright disheartening and stressful. 

The most important thing to keep in mind is that under these circumstances you shouldn’t even try to analyze and figure these people out but instead you must know who you are. You must have a strong sense of self and also put boundaries in place.

When you know who you are, that is, having a high-level of self-esteem most of these negative feedback that’s hurled at you, some of which don’t even have a leg to stand on will not even phase you.

It’s also essential that you take time at the beginning of every day to start your day off right and set the tone for the rest of your day. Having a morning routine that includes prayer or meditation will be an excellent foundation to keep you grounded as well as to keep you calm.

In addition to that, to help keep you motivated, quietly set and crush your goals. Set small goals for yourself. If you can meet a small goal every day or every other day, it will be easier to keep your head up and pushing forward with the same energy enthusiasm as when you first started.

You and I both know that we have shortcomings. Be aware of your shortcomings and accept them and you’ll enjoy life more. Don’t try to be perfect or you’ll never be happy with who you are. Don’t blame yourself when things aren’t perfect, and you don’t take disappointments personally.

Just take a step back and take a look at all the good things in your life. That alone should boost your self-esteem.

Conclusion

So Whenever you’re attacked and tested by someone spewing negative comments, I know it can be really tough and scary to deal with in the beginning. But don’t let it wear away at your spirit. Just be objective and try not to feel insulted but examine these negative remarks and see if there is any truth to them.

Salvage those comments and take what you need to from them and work on it. The rest you don’t need, just ditch it. Remember that doing your best every day will pay off in the end. When you show up and bring your A-game and do your best on the daily is what will ultimately set you apart and make you feel a whole lot better . And this will allow you to find joy in your life every single day regardless of the situations surrounding you.

 How do you cope with negative critical people? Share in the comments below.