Criticism is one of the hardest things to take. At least for me it is. I take everything very personal and to heart. It has always been this way and is just part of my make up of me. As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I am trying to work on not taking things so personal or actually taking someones criticism or unkind words and making them into something positive.

During a recent "discussion" with my partner, it came up that he doesn't think I keep our home picked up. I realize that I am a stay at home mother of only two children but I remain fairly busy keeping up with my work outs, errands and mostly driving of our two kids to extracurricular activities approximately 6 out of the 7 days a week. I pointed this out and in vain tried the defend myself (which shouldn't really be necessary but that's a story for another day) with such points as my father being extremely ill and passing away within a 6 month time frame this year and the upcoming holiday season. It was a dead end discussion ending with me feeling deflated and inadequate.

After I had time to step away from his words and the situation, I decided to do something about it instead of letting it brew inside me and fester which in turn would continue to bring me down. So you know what I did, I started picking up the house. I made the bed every morning no matter what before I left the house. I made sure the dishes were out of the sink after a meal or snack. Before bed I took the couple extra minutes it takes (and it really only takes a couple when you do it every night) to either fold or hang my clothes up from that day or put them in the dirty clothes. Amazingly the pile of clothes I'd come to build  on top of the hamper by the end of the week disappeared. The dirty clothes hamper became accessable again without having to hold the clothes on top of it down to prevent them from falling off.

Within a week I noticed how different I felt. My house is always picked up and presentable for company. I don't have to take as long to tidy up because I did it the day or night before. Things that took me 20 minutes to clean now only take 10. I am able to spend more time with my kids sitting on the couch watching TV o playing games without stressing about all the things I have to get done or didn't get done that day. This in turn makes me calmer and more patient with my kids. I wish I'd started this sooner!

Now whether or not I made this change for me or to spite him (probably a little of both), I've greatly benefited from taking the criticism and turning it into something positive and productive. I'm establishing new habits that benefit me and my family way more than my old ones and who knew! Even at 39 I can change and adjust my way of thinking for the better. We're never too old for change and maybe just maybe, I'm not too old to learn to take negatives and turn them into positives in other areas of my life.

I hope this inspires you and the next time you are on the receiving end of criticism or negativity you'll remember my experience and make it into something positive!