Monday, November 3, 2014

Critics? Get Naked!

My favorite way to procrastinate is to visit a web site called Faithit. It's full of inspiration videos and stories that show the noble side of the human experience. As you can imagine, I've been going there more often than usual.

Go and make yourself a cup of tea, coffee, or a root beer float. This video is so perfect for us creatives that I had to share it with you. It's pretty long at 22 minutes, but the tools and wisdom she shares about our critics is priceless.

By the way, Brené Brown is an American scholar, author, and public speaker, who is currently a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She's the author of Daring Greatly, The Gifts of Imperfection, and I Thought It Was Just Me.

I plan on watching this once a week until I've internalized the message.

I'm anxious to hear what you have to say about it.

After I listened to this for the first time, I...(fill in the blank).


4 comments:

Camille Eide said...

Um... she nailed it.

As my first novel prepared to launch, I told myself and everyone else that I'm preparing myself to fall apart when the criticism comes--not that I want or deserve it--but because it's inevitable, and because I know me and how thin skinned I am. In that way, I'm prepared for it. As in when it happens, when you can't find me, know I'll be hiding under my rock licking my wounds, etc.

But Brene gives me so much more that I can do in preparation for the bad reviews and the cutting comments. It also reminds me of the reason I'm so afraid of "showing up." I'm reminded that I'm the worst and quickest to critique. Others, myself, etc. And it's knowing what I say about others that paralyzes me with fear to stand up there at the top of the stairs naked. If I'm up there naked BUT I'm orphaning the parts that are still good but that don't quite make the cut, allowing pettiness and ignorant assumption (my own right along with the trolls) to determine my worth, then yes, it's the last place you'll ever see me without a gun to my head.

She just prevented me from taking the advice to "grow a thick skin." Because a thick skin will only shut off the creativity and humanness borne of vulnerability. Gives me much to think about. Thank you so much for sharing.

Patti Hill said...

Camille: These are great lessons to learn now. I'm so glad you stopped by. And thanks for your honesty. Your writing will be so very human, like you.

Donna Bergman said...

I love Brene Brown! Thanks for posting this great speech. The message is "right on" no matter what the task or goal I'm pursuing. I needed to hear this. I feel motivated again!

Patti Hill said...

Donna, go on out (or in) and make some beautiful art. You're the woman to do it.