Enduring Criticism
I'll probably never get a tattoo (seems anti-climatic after the toe thing), but if I ever DO decide to go there, I might have this Theodore Roosevelt quote, in its entirety, drawn unto my forearm. Not only do I love the abundant and correct use of semi-colons, I LOVE the smack down of those who criticize.
Critics don't count. Unless, of course, you let them.
If you see the whiners as something more than "timid souls" who are content with consuming while never creating; if you decide to let the bellyaching settle in your ear and make its way to your mind; well, then the critic counts a good deal.
I find I'm most skilled at ditching disparaging remarks if I "consider the source" and apply filters carefully.
Yes, I believe feedback is a gift, but I also believe there's ALWAYS someone ready to find fault and criticize. There are practical ways to stop dwelling on criticism, but sometimes all it takes is a quick reset by reading the words below. See for yourself.
Read. Slowly.
Soak in the words and take them to heart!
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The Man In The Arena
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
Need further inspiration? Check out Brene Brown's book, Daring Greatly.