WHY DO WE CRITICIZE?

What we gain from criticizing and complaining.

How often do we encounter people who enjoy criticizing? Sometimes we don’t have to look far, as we may see the same behavior in ourselves. Whenever a new movie, book, actor, song, or dish comes out, we often feel the urge to express our dislike for it. However, we continue to engage with it despite not enjoying it. Can we expect everything in the world to suit our preferences? Should we criticize something just because it’s not to our liking instead of focusing on what we enjoy?

Respecting others’ tastes and preferences is important, and criticizing someone because their taste differs from ours is unnecessary. Instead, we should appreciate the effort and inspiration others put into creating something they enjoy and sharing it with those who appreciate it.

Often, criticism stems from hate or anger inside us—we are just looking for something to direct it toward. This negativity is destructive, not only for others but for ourselves as well. Holding onto these feelings can harm our body and mind.

If we don’t like something, we should prioritize ourselves and spend time on what we truly enjoy. It’s also crucial to reflect on why we feel triggered by certain things and what it reveals about ourselves.

As a coach, asking questions is an effective way to guide individuals to find their own answers rather than imposing personal opinions. Sharing negativity attracts negativity into our lives, and not loving ourselves and spending time on what we dislike prevents us from enriching and inspiring ourselves. It’s important to work on ourselves and let go of the anger that weighs us down.