15-5

Handling Criticism (Chapter 5)

As artists, we tend to be defensive. However, when it comes to criticism, defensiveness can kill you. It keeps us from the truth. Recognizing the truth and speaking honestly is a sign of high moral character. Defensiveness on the other hand, is a serious character flaw. Don't be quick to take offense, or you will find yourself constantly being offended. You have to have thick skin, not everyone is going to like what you do.

A major difference in performing and being in ministry is putting on a facade. When you are performing, you have to own the stage. If you are having an awful day you still have to look self-confident and enthusiastic. But that is not how ministry works. It is not entertainment, it is worship. You have to be authentic, you have to be real. Replace fake confidence with humility. Ministry demands that we allow the Holy Spirit to own the stage, and not us!

As artists, we need to be willing to welcome feedback, good or bad. Scripture says that it is foolish not to be open to feedback (Proverbs 1:7). So how do you respond? There are 3 things you need to do:
1. Be quick to listen. Shut your mouth, stop trying to defend yourself for a minute, and listen to what the other person is saying. If what they are saying is untrue, you don't have to justify yourself anyway. God loves you, they don't have to.
2. Be slow to speak. Take some time and think about what the person had to say. Again, stop trying to defend yourself! If you are wrong, you don't have a defense, if you are right, you don't need one!
3. Be slow to become angry. This is a hard one. Take a step back and cool down. Sometimes criticism comes across a lot more harshly than it is intended to. Most people (and I say most) are genuinely trying to help.

We have to ask ourselves what we can learn from this criticism that can make us a better artist. If you can't figure it out, run it by someone else. Find out what parts of the criticism are valid. Work on those things, and just let the others slide. We also need to learn how to fail. We don't like to fail, it is never a good feeling, but sometimes it is necessary to succeed. Just because you fail doesn't mean you are a failure. Sometimes we learn how not to do things before we learn how to do them.

Keep all of this in mind when you are giving criticism as well. Think through what you need to say and say only that. Put yourself on the other side of your comments and speak the truth in love.

Enjoy the Journey