How to Respond to Criticism in Relationships: Communication and Inferiority

Criticism is a powerful and dangerous destroyer of not only relationships, but also in making people feel inferior. Feelings of unworthiness, shame, and guilt, are all dangerous emotions often created in us when we are criticized. You need to learn how to respond to this style of poor communication so it doesn't destroy your relationships and doesn't make you feel inferior.

The primary factors of the conditioning aspect that determines whether you become inferior or rise above the circumstance is your attitude towards criticism and failure. Don’t forget that there is the creative imagination aspect which is a more powerful influence towards feeling inferior yet criticism and failure are the powerful influences within the conditioning aspect.

Criticism and failure will always be banging at your door to success. Unfortunately, most of us let the two get a foot hold within our lives and from there the problems expand themselves. Criticism compounds criticism and failure demotivates you resulting in more failure. You will never be able to eliminate criticism or failure. Therefore, to overcome the inferiority complex you cannot expect yourself to not fail or to not receive criticism. Overcoming the conditioning aspect of the inferiority complex is a matter of learning and moving on while maintaining a goal-focused attitude.

I have found that the more people who subscribe to my newsletter ("Earthling Transmission"), the more visitors Earthling Communication receives, and the more people who read my articles and free resources, the more criticism I receive. I get excited with this and energized because I know the criticism is a sign of achievement (I am sober as I type this). You and I will always have our critics provided we are not mediocre. Anyone who has achieved anything notable sooner or later receives criticism. The great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, said "Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."

When you feel criticism is a signal of your unworthiness then it begins to stimulate inferiority, shame, and failure. Don't take criticism personally and think you are a failure. If criticism is justly deserved then use it as feedback to adjust your course of action as it guides you back on the path of not feeling inferior.

You need to know that other's criticism towards you will either be an attempt to improve your life, be a release of frustration, or a sign of the person’s own problems. Sometimes you can take the criticism as a sign of you progressing forward in life!

The impact of criticism is determined by the power of the sender, intensity, and frequency. These three factors are not limited to criticism. I'd say just about all positive and negative messages' impact on you are determined by these three factors.

If you are passionate about boxing and Muhammad Ali told you how hopeless you are at boxing, then his power will intensify the criticism. In addition, if his criticism was delivered in an intense outburst, then the criticism would have a bigger impact on you feeling inferior as a boxer. Lastly, if he also constantly reminded you how hopeless you are at boxing, this would stimulate further inferiority.

There is a lot more you can learn about inferiority and criticism to improve how you handle difficult situations and increasing your feelings of self-worth so I encourage you to continue learning about this topic. Overcoming inferiority and having great communication is possible if you work at it.

Joshua Uebergang is an expert in good communication skills and relationships. You can sign-up to his free effective communication skills newsletter and receive heaps of free goodies to improve your relationships, success, and happiness.

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