Nowadays, criticism has such a negative connotation that most people automatically react poorly to even just the term itself, without even thinking about its benefits.  Last week we discussed the two weeks to criticism, but I wanted to be able to discuss the real benefits of it. I firmly believe the more you open up to it the better opportunity you have for growth.Perhaps our upbringing has tainted our idea of criticism.  Could it be that people took this term and used it to justify their judgments on your life's choices?  Perhaps you heard one too many times that they were just giving you "constructive criticism" and you shouldn't take it so personally.  Perhaps in school, you weren't the strongest in one subject and the teacher made fun of you and called it criticism. But criticism really should be one of the best forms of helping others succeed.  Criticism is meant to come from experts in the field and used as a tool to help you advance.  It is meant to be positive, despite what it has become over the years.  And although for many, it feels like a personal attack, maybe there can be a way for us to see how it is a learning experience for not only the person being critiqued but for the critics themselves. Everyone has experienced in life and in the business realm, and criticism is a great way to share those experiences with others.  If you're a writer, you will become a better writer through criticism.  If you're an artist, you will become a better artist through criticism.  Someone will open your eyes to another perspective and your work will evolve into the best work you've ever done. And criticism benefits the critic just as much as the person being criticized.  The critic is learning, at the same time, a new perspective.  They are learning the perspective of the writer or the artist, and they can, in turn, use that perspective to help them develop their own work. The possibilities are endless in regards to criticism! So today I challenge you to embrace what you have heard, do not be so quick to push it away and think of what success can be derived from the criticism you have received.