15/11: Critique
How does one stand tall and proud to be in presence of life when there is so much negativity thrown at him? Because he is man, undaunted.
Critique. Constructive criticism. Suggest. Insult. Review. Evaluate. Consider. Analyze. Deconstruct. Edit. Expose. Judge. Define. Explain. Whichever you choose, the terms are a challenge to men and toss lesser men aside. So we should be nicer to one another, right? Why?
When men challenge one another, even when the one doing the challenging has no business critiquing—think of Mike Tyson being criticized during a fight by sports writers and commentators who barely have the strength to lift their pens and microphones—we are doing what men do best, crushing the spirit of weaker, lesser men. Why is this good? Because cream rises to the top.
When a man has confidence, founded or not, he will succeed if he has the drive. Actually, if he really has the confidence to overcome the insult of critique as commentary, he has the drive. Confidence is challenged through critique and for the strong few it is not simply heard but used as a powerful self-motivation tool. No, not to prove the pathetic loser who is trying to hold them back wrong but to demonstrate to themselves the truth of their possibility and the power of their perseverance. Critique can be the energy to flame a bright star or tip the avalanche that crushes the spirit, enveloping all. Therein lies the challenge.
Critique designed to destroy comes natural to most men, as the stronger man is deemed a threat. It is used to challenge, to claim, in various forms. Critique is where we go when we are hurt, threatened, by others. It is a self-defense mechanism, as the base instinct of violence has been quashed. Critique is natural not simply because we judge others harshly but because we judge ourselves so harshly, always expecting more. Somehow we believe that if we critique others enough the light will shine on them and mask our cracks and flaws. In moments of reflection—about ourselves and others—we understand the harshest critique is the criticism and commentary we spew toward others meant for ourselves.
“To critique or not to critique?” is not the question. We are men, we will critique, but what type of man are you? What type of man, will you become? Will you focus on criticizing others to avoid looking within? Will you succumb to the criticism of those who want to limit you (too often those closest to you)? Do you wish to find the balance, the center where we look behind the criticism of others to try and understand the source and look within our own critique to better understand the flaws we try and hide? Can you critique yourself honestly, and survive?
Some consider those beyond criticism arrogant. Usually this is little more than envy of a man confident enough to stake his claim in the moment without regard for those who wish he would quit, as they have. Yes, he still hears and feels the criticism but steels himself with the confidence that he has prepared himself for the moment. The victory of success is his. It is easy, natural, to criticize, but to let it roll off your back takes a confidence and discipline few possess. Do you have the strength to quietly stand tall, proud, feeling it unnecessary to critique others while moving beyond their criticism?
To not be critiqued is to not have challenged. To be the critic is to have set your limitations.
Critique. Constructive criticism. Suggest. Insult. Review. Evaluate. Consider. Analyze. Deconstruct. Edit. Expose. Judge. Define. Explain. Whichever you choose, the terms are a challenge to men and toss lesser men aside. So we should be nicer to one another, right? Why?
When men challenge one another, even when the one doing the challenging has no business critiquing—think of Mike Tyson being criticized during a fight by sports writers and commentators who barely have the strength to lift their pens and microphones—we are doing what men do best, crushing the spirit of weaker, lesser men. Why is this good? Because cream rises to the top.
When a man has confidence, founded or not, he will succeed if he has the drive. Actually, if he really has the confidence to overcome the insult of critique as commentary, he has the drive. Confidence is challenged through critique and for the strong few it is not simply heard but used as a powerful self-motivation tool. No, not to prove the pathetic loser who is trying to hold them back wrong but to demonstrate to themselves the truth of their possibility and the power of their perseverance. Critique can be the energy to flame a bright star or tip the avalanche that crushes the spirit, enveloping all. Therein lies the challenge.
Critique designed to destroy comes natural to most men, as the stronger man is deemed a threat. It is used to challenge, to claim, in various forms. Critique is where we go when we are hurt, threatened, by others. It is a self-defense mechanism, as the base instinct of violence has been quashed. Critique is natural not simply because we judge others harshly but because we judge ourselves so harshly, always expecting more. Somehow we believe that if we critique others enough the light will shine on them and mask our cracks and flaws. In moments of reflection—about ourselves and others—we understand the harshest critique is the criticism and commentary we spew toward others meant for ourselves.
“To critique or not to critique?” is not the question. We are men, we will critique, but what type of man are you? What type of man, will you become? Will you focus on criticizing others to avoid looking within? Will you succumb to the criticism of those who want to limit you (too often those closest to you)? Do you wish to find the balance, the center where we look behind the criticism of others to try and understand the source and look within our own critique to better understand the flaws we try and hide? Can you critique yourself honestly, and survive?
Some consider those beyond criticism arrogant. Usually this is little more than envy of a man confident enough to stake his claim in the moment without regard for those who wish he would quit, as they have. Yes, he still hears and feels the criticism but steels himself with the confidence that he has prepared himself for the moment. The victory of success is his. It is easy, natural, to criticize, but to let it roll off your back takes a confidence and discipline few possess. Do you have the strength to quietly stand tall, proud, feeling it unnecessary to critique others while moving beyond their criticism?
To not be critiqued is to not have challenged. To be the critic is to have set your limitations.
