Welcome to the Jeff Kaven show where we talk about the Bible, discipleship and evangelization putting it all together and living as activated disciples.

This is Show 278 How to Receive Criticism

And welcome again, my friend. So glad you came back. This is Show 278 where we're approaching 300 just around the corner.

Well, I'm going to talk about that topic that we have to talk about.

And it's a topic that is no respecter of age or your place in society as far as the money you have, the positions you have, where you live.

It's that topic of criticism and specifically how to receive criticism. How do we deal with criticism? This is one of the most difficult things to deal with in our life when people criticize us.

Maybe you heard that great phrase that really means nothing. And that is sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

I think more it's more like sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can actually kill me, destroy me, crush me.

And that's the power of words. I gave a talk in a city. I remember this so clearly. I gave a talk in a city.

And I thought it was a pretty good talk to be honest with you. And afterwards someone comes up and says, Jeff, I really, do you have a minute?

You have a minute? Sure. I really liked your talk. I just have one suggestion for you. Now at that point, you do know everything changes, blood pressure, security, threat.

Maybe they maybe they aren't the person I thought they were danger will Robinson, right? Well, you'll have to Google that one.

If you don't know what danger will Robinson means, you're going to have to Google that. Then you'll know.

But no one likes to be criticized, but critique is a part of life, kind of like going into your boss's office for your annual review.

Prior to your annual review, do you sleep well the night before? Probably not. You probably don't. I remember one time my assistant called me.

It was late at night, about nine o'clock or so. And she called me and she said, are you sitting down?

Now, when someone says that, are you sitting down? It usually means prepare yourself, brace yourself.

And they started the conversation by saying that. And then they said, I want to read to you something that somebody wrote about you.

Boy, everything changes at that point, doesn't it? It's almost like your life is falling apart. You feel so vulnerable, so shaky.

And it's really a difficult thing. And it never ceases to amaze me what criticism can do. So we're going to talk about that.

We're going to talk about listening to someone. We're going to talk about weighing what they say and how do we respond if we're criticized?

And if you are someone who just recently has been criticized, this show is going to be for you. It really will.

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