I'm simply afraid of people.
My point to this is that because this is terrifying to me, I think it will help me. I've been taking actions to become less afraid - writing this blog and trying to actually say the answer if I know it are among the things I'm trying to do. It's senseless to live in fear of other people, especially in the case of this blog, because I will likely not meet anyone who reads this. I know that, yet for some reason I remain terrified. It's definitely gotten better, but there are still times where I think to myself, "Is this really worth posting? Does anyone care?"
The simple answer I've come up with is: "Who cares if anyone cares?" This is my blog, and therefore I shouldn't be negatively influenced by anyone who insults me. Rather, I can take that criticism to grow thicker skin and to improve myself in the ways that I lack.
The other point I'm trying to make is that as a writer, I will encounter people who don't like my writing. People will criticize and insult my books, and I will hear about it. But I can't let myself be affected by it, at least not negatively (as I mentioned before). The point of receiving criticism is to become better. I willingly accept criticism (even though it still scares me) so that I can grow as a writer and become the best I can be.
(If you haven't figured it out yet, this applies to you too!)
This applies to anyone in any activity, be it a job or just something to do for fun (yeah, I said basically the same thing twice in a row. Emphasis). A sports player can take criticism to know what he did wrong in one game, and apply that later on so that he doesn't make the same mistake. A salesman can learn what works for what kinds of people and use that knowledge to make more sales. A student can do poorly on a test or exam and be admonished by a teacher to learn that he may need better study habits. This can be applied to literally anyone. And I mean literally in the literal sense. Not in the nonchalant, overused way people say it now.
Take criticism, but don't be hurt by it. Accept it as an observation that someone else made, and even if it was said in a negative way, take it as constructive. Learn from your mistakes, even if you haven't directly been given criticism; in other words, give yourself constructive criticism (never destructive. Insulting yourself is even worse than someone else insulting you). Do what you like for the reasons you like, but if someone tells you you're doing it wrong, then take what they told you and apply it.
It's all cliche, I know. If you haven't learned by now, just about everything I post has been a huge cliche.
The thing about cliches is that they can be true and applicable. So apply it. Apply whatever cliche impressions I may have made on you (as long as they're positive...I really want to be clear that I don't like bad things!)
Anyone can be great in his or her own way.
With that final, overwhelmingly cheesy, sentimental thought, I bid you a good night.
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