The importance of constructive criticism in our relationships

Construcrtive criticism plays a vital role in human relationships

Hello friends, how are you today? 🙂

I hope your weekend is offering you some peace, joy and harmony.

I've just come back from this morning's Meditaction session, which was the first meditation session in Geneva in this month of July. Summer is here! 😎

It was a true pleasure to offer this session after being absent for a week, and to see our beautiful group reunited again. Some people are gone, some people were there for the first time. But the power and beauty of the group dynamic is very alive, and our discussion/action moment together after the meditation was really very enjoyable and enriching.

After sharing a bit about our meditation experience and our last experiences of positive actions, we took some time to write down our personal and collective intentions for this new month of July.

Is setting intentions or goals something you usually do?

I find it very helpful at the beginning of each day, week, month, quarter or year to do this exercice. It really can give us a clear direction of what we genuinely desire to accomplish and help us stay focused on our most important goals.

Then, we did a very simple yet uplifting exercice: telling the person next to us (sitting on the right) what we think about her/him. For this exercice, we focused on the positive (but it can be done in both ways).

The first round of compliments was so good, that someone suggested we would do it again, this time with the person sitting on our left side. So we did it again, and everyone felt very energized after these two rounds of genuine and inspiring compliments we gave to each other.

The truth is, we judge people all the time in our heads.

But we rarely have the courage to express to people what we truly think about them.

In any relationship, whether it's a romantic partnership, a friendship, or a professional collaboration, communication plays a vital role. One aspect of communication that is often overlooked but holds immense importance is constructive criticism. It may sound counterintuitive, but offering and receiving constructive criticism can actually strengthen the bond between individuals and contribute to personal and mutual growth.

Constructive criticism demands empathy and understanding, as we navigate the delicate balance between expressing our concerns and remaining compassionate. By considering the impact of our words and actively listening to the feedback we receive, we foster an environment of empathy, where both parties feel valued and understood. This empathy, in turn, strengthens the emotional connection and promotes healthier communication patterns.

Today, we did it by enhancing the positive characteristics we saw in our meditation friends. But it can also be used to tell others what are the aspects we would like to improve in our relationships. By sharing with others from this place of truth and transparency, we can address issues and resolve conflicts before they escalate into larger problems. It paves the way for understanding, compromise, and collaboration, as both sides actively work towards resolving any differences and improving the overall dynamics of a relationship.

How do you integrate constructive criticism in your life?

Do you practice it more at home, in the workplace or within your social circles?

Let us know what are your thoughts on this!

Wish you all a happy weekend and month ahead.

💛

Tati