Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. (Proverbs 29:1, NLT)Effective communication is a both an art and science. The human body is so very expressive, a fact those studying anatomy often relate to a maker or God, Himself.
And with the gift of choice, we all have the ability to use our bodies as offerings or weapons - our words as gifts or as swords to cut another deeply. Being candid or truthful is not a license for offense. We must take great care in the things we say and actions we demonstrate as these are evidence of our motive.
But can you be calm under fire? Do you accept criticism well? To be a mature communicator is very tough. In fact, I find it tougher with those I care more about. It's rather inversely proportional: The less I care for someone, the easier it is to take criticism.
But it is those we love most that need us to stay our hand and not level both barrels right at their head when delivering observations. I certainly have been guilty of opening my mouth and directly inserting my foot (or possibly both).
What I have been learning, and attempting to apply, is that maintaining a Jesus-focused perspective helps remove you from the direct line of fire. Why? I'm sure there are many reasons, but for me, my Jesus-focus helps me ask, "Why is this person saying this (using these words, using this tone, and posturing like that)?
Also, maintaining my Jesus-focused outlook helps me keep perspective on the day's problems. I find that when I am most stressed, if I were to pause and ask what I'm stressed about then I often can answer that I've become obsessed with the task at hand instead of the purpose the task is meant to yield.
Try that in your day. See if you can pause, take a breath, and refocus on God's purpose for you in that moment. It may help you take criticism just a little easier too.
Seeking the Son is a website dedicated to the search for a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Ken is also the founder of ChangeForge, a website focusing on the shifting paradigms of business and technology. To discover all of the places you can connect with Ken, please connect with him here.
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