Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Art’s subjectivity is highly personal, and what resonates with one person may not necessarily resonate with another. Different individuals have different tastes, preferences, and perspectives. It’s essential to recognize that there will be critics and haters passing judgment on your work. Not everyone will appreciate or connect with you, and that’s okay.
Photograph Courtesy of Markus Winkler
Table of contents
Someone else’s disapproval of my abilities impacts my self-worth. Criticism from others has torn me to shreds. Likewise, it has created feelings of inadequacy and anger. Does this sound familiar?
Opinions Are Like Armpits
Everybody Has Two And They Both Stink
Judging involves having an opinion on something, pointing it out to be either good or bad. Criticism, however, is expressing an opinion on something without pinpointing anything good or bad.
On the positive side, criticism can be an evaluative or corrective exercise.
Opinion Ghettos
People who pass judgment and have hateful opinions live in this slum. An impoverished mindset can become a place where we are overly concerned about the opinions of others. This is a place of squalor.
Constructive criticism can be valuable for development and improvement. While negative feedback can be challenging to hear, it can also offer insights and perspectives you might have yet to consider. Embrace the opportunity to learn from criticism and use it as a stepping stone to refine your skills and artistic vision.
Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive relationships is crucial for personal growth and overcoming destructive points of view. Building a network of individuals who understand and appreciate your creative journey can provide encouragement, constructive feedback, and a sense of belonging.
By doing these things you create a mutually beneficial environment by cultivating reciprocal relationships where support and assistance flow. Such connections can help you navigate moments of self-doubt and build resilience in the face of criticism or negativity. It offers a support system during challenging times and opportunities for collaboration, inspiration, and shared experiences.
Remember that seeking support and leaning on others is not a sign of weakness but rather a strength. We all need help at various points in our lives, and having a reliable network to lean on can make a significant difference. Likewise, being available to support others creates a sense of community and contributes to the overall well-being of everyone involved.
Ultimately, finding a balance between remaining open to feedback that can help you grow and stay true to your artistic vision is crucial. Embrace the joy and fulfillment that creating art brings you, and remember that the opinions of others do not define your worth as an artist.
The Winner Is?
And the most prevalent Opinion Ghetto? Social media.
When your art stands for something these folks can come out of the woodwork. Especially if they don’t agree with or understand you. Worse, they have no risk of personal confrontation. People hide behind Facebook’s invisible wall with no accountability.
Social media platforms can sometimes become spaces where negativity and hateful opinions thrive. The relative anonymity and lack of face-to-face interaction on social media can embolden some individuals to express their thoughts harshly or hurtfully without considering the consequences.
Unfortunately, people use these platforms to spread destructive comments and cyberbullying. The impact of such behavior on individuals can be significant, leading to emotional distress and damage to reputations.
Hateful posts have destroyed people. Someone posts an emotional trigger and complete strangers jump on the band wagon. Reputations become questionable and ruined.
Four Things To Consider With Haters and Critics
Count on someone being jealous when you attain success. This can be a sign post that you are doing something right.
When you stand for something or express your art in a meaningful way, it can indeed attract attention, both positive and negative. Success can sometimes trigger envy or resentment in others, leading them to express their disapproval or attempt to undermine your achievements.
In such situations, it’s important to remember a few things:
- Protecting Your Well-being: It’s crucial to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. If engaging with social media platforms harms your mental health or self-esteem, consider limiting your exposure or taking breaks from these platforms altogether. Focus on cultivating positive and supportive relationships outside of social media.
- Constructive Engagement: While responding to negative comments or defending yourself may be tempting, it’s often more productive to focus on engaging with constructive criticism or surrounding yourself with a supportive community. Choose to invest your energy in those who appreciate and understand your work rather than engaging in arguments with individuals who seek to bring you down.
- Building a Strong Network: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your values and artistic vision. Cultivate relationships with fellow artists, mentors, or friends who understand and appreciate your work. Their support can provide a valuable counterbalance to negative experiences on social media.
- Personal Growth and Resilience: Success and visibility often come with challenges. Focus on personal growth, staying true to your artistic vision, and developing resilience in the face of criticism. Use the negativity as a signpost that you are making an impact and doing something right.
Humility
I have learned to be more accepting of others. Practicing thinking as others helps create empathy towards my fellow human beings.
It’s commendable when have developed a mindset of acceptance and empathy towards others. Practicing the ability to understand different perspectives can foster greater empathy and compassion, promoting healthier relationships and interactions with fellow human beings.
Humbleness can be challenging, especially when faced with criticism from others, particularly if you feel more competent or skilled in your craft than your critics. It can be frustrating to receive feedback from individuals who may have a different level of expertise or execution in their endeavors.
Maintaining a respectful, measured, and thoughtful response to criticism demonstrates your artistic maturity and professionalism. It allows you to engage in meaningful dialogue, even if you disagree with the feedback. Responding with grace and openness can help build bridges, create understanding, and potentially convert critics into supporters.
Understanding
While social media can be challenging, it’s important to remember that it’s just one facet of the larger artistic landscape. Don’t let negative experiences online discourage you or detract from the fulfillment you derive from your art.
I have learned to use criticism to evaluate myself. It is super important to listen to what others have to say. Objective intent can actually teach something. Yet truth hurts if you let it; there is perspective in a haters criticism, you only have to find it.
A lot of judgement from others can create anger. Remember, they are not the ones who provoke our emotions. I am the one who gets to choose my response to negative comments.
Application
Negativity is everywhere, you can’t to get away from it. Everyone will not embrace your art. Use that as motivation; have appreciation for where you are right now.
However, it’s vital to approach criticism with an open mind and a willingness to reflect on your work. While not all complaints may be valid or constructive, there can still be value in exploring the perspective of your detractors. Sometimes, their feedback may offer insights or considerations you had not considered previously.
Accepting feedback doesn’t mean blindly incorporating every opinion into your work. It means being open to constructive criticism, learning from it, and making informed decisions about how to apply it to your artistic process.
Conformity is super comfortable. Avoid the pressure of caving into a critic’s observations together with maintaining your individuality.
It’s crucial to approach criticism with a mindset of curiosity and a willingness to find the perspective within it. Even if it comes from individuals who may not support or understand your work, there can still be kernels of truth or different viewpoints that can expand your understanding or challenge your assumptions. By actively seeking the lessons or perspectives within criticism, you can use them as a tool for personal and artistic development.
Our process of creativity involves independent thinking and motivation. Our belief systems and character can come under attack but we can use this to show critics that they are incorrect in their observations.
Displaying attainment and accomplishment quiets the doubters and haters.
Take pride in your achievement, succeeding when critics would have you fail.
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