Ponderings: Praise and criticism

'Being praised can be just as harmful as being criticized if you're not careful. Your work, your voice, your words, your art, your gifts you have them to give to the world--their value has nothing to do with the response you receive from them. Social media can complicate that truth, and good feedback can trick you into thinking "I am good because people like what I put out there." That's not true, Ever.'

These are the words of Kelle Cryderman Hampton, author of one of my favourite blogs, 'Enjoying the small things' (check it out http://www.kellehampton.com)

These words resonated with me today and found a place in my heart. I have had an interesting relationship with criticism and praise. I worked hard to change and have become better able to deal with both, though there is always still room for improvement. (Self criticism...hmmm...there's a whole can of worms!) But it's only human nature though isn't it? To feel pleased and validated when one receives praise and smaller, less important when criticism is levelled at us? Perhaps, but it can become so debilitating, throw in self doubt and self criticism and you have yourself a whole heap of messed up thinking.

'Validation is an interesting thing though, and no matter how strong or unphased by criticism we are, there is an undeniable human desire to have people like what we feel passionate about--our art, our words, our stories, our styles, our writing, our opinions. It's why we sometimes feel hesitant to publish or share. What will people think?'

This was the next paragraph that caught my attention, yeah what she said! I found it interesting to read this post shortly after receiving some flattering praise about one of my photo's. Praise that I'm not sure I feel I deserve...I take photo's for my own pleasure, I post them on facebook, I edit them and print them. I love the whole process, quite often I see the world 'in pictures'. As I am walking along I see the potential photograph that I could take. It's a bit of an addiction if I'm honest! Looking back through the photo's I often focus on the negative (no pun intended!).The flaws in the picture. Though I also get an immense amount of joy from revisiting a time and place that was good, it's a lovely way to capture time in ones hands and hold it forever. Anyway, I have digressed a little, perhaps the secret with praise or criticism is to smile and say thank you (maybe pausing to see how it feels) and then continuing with ones life...so thank you!

In other news...though related....I have a ton of photos to save, edit, print and put into albums...which is challenging in so much as there don't seem to be enough hours in a day (maybe I should get up earlier?) and the photo album (scrapbooks if truth be told) shelf is now full!

Here are a few of my photos that I do like...