How can feedback improve your self-image and self-talk?

Remember how media literacy taught us to scrutinize our news sources? Well, we need advice literacy, too — the same method of analyzing the SOURCE before we accept the information, but this time, applied to advice. A few tips: 1. Consider the Source: Seek mentors and peers with (1) proven success AND (2) a genuine interest in your success. Be careful with advice from those who don't meet *both* qualities. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback: Prioritize advice that offers specific, actionable insights over advice that's just vague or negative comments. 3. Reflect on Relevance: Take time to reflect on the relevance of advice before applying it to your life. Ask yourself if the feedback aligns with your goals and areas for growth.

Feedback, when received constructively, can significantly improve self-image and self-talk. It provides an external perspective that helps you see your strengths and areas for improvement, offering a more balanced view of yourself. Constructive feedback highlights your achievements, reinforcing positive self-talk and boosting self-esteem. It also identifies areas where you can grow, encouraging a mindset focused on learning and development. This process helps shift internal dialogue from critical to encouraging, focusing on potential rather than limitations. Embracing feedback as a tool for growth fosters resilience, adaptability, and a more positive self-image, as you learn to value yourself for your effort and progress.

To avoid getting feedback that lowers your confidence and self-esteem, look at your feedback sources carefully. Please take a look at the feedback from people who are trustworthy, credible, and constructive, and who have relevant expertise or experience in the area you want to improve.

Choose carefully whose advice you heed. Place your trust in those who have achieved success in the direction you're headed. When gathering feedback, it's easy to become confused due to varying opinions. Focus on the insights of individuals with the most expertise to make informed decisions.

Feedback is a game-changer for your self-image and inner dialogue. It shines a light on how others see you, guiding you towards a more honest view of yourself. This can lead you to appreciate your strengths and understand areas for growth, shifting your self-talk from negative to encouraging. When feedback highlights what you're doing right, it boosts your confidence big time, making you feel capable and valued. Essentially, feedback helps you see the real you, nudging you to talk to yourself in a kinder, more positive way.

Feedback can feel uncomfortable physically. It's not just the intellectual, logical part of the words that we understand. Our body interprets the words through a thoughts, emotions and our interoception. This can make feedback a challenging process. Focussing on the message and not just how a person is reacting to the emotional meaning takes patience and guidance. Searching for factual data within the feedback can help implement more concrete behavioural changes.

You have to learn to see the forest and not the trees. To achieve this, you have to put your emotions aside and really focus on the message that you are given.

Separating the message from the messenger when receiving feedback is like sifting gold (valuable insights) from a pile of gravel (unhelpful delivery). Just as a gold pan filters out unwanted rocks to reveal the precious metal, your focus should be on the content of the feedback, not the way it's delivered. Bonus Tip: Seek clarification if needed. If the feedback is unclear, don't be afraid to ask for clarification (approach the person who gave the feedback and ask them to help you identify the most valuable nuggets).

We are heading in a certain direction in our lives, and there will be areas we are focusing on to help us move in that direction. So, whenever we receive feedback, we need to weigh it against whether it is relevant to our areas of focus. If it is not relevant, it's okay not to pay too much attention to that feedback. Additionally, we must keep in mind that the feedback pertains to the work and not the person. Therefore, we need to be careful about how we interpret the feedback we receive. Personally, I prefer to take notes when given feedback and revisit them after some time. This pause helps me avoid getting stuck in the noise and allows me to focus on the themes that are relevant to me on my journey.

When it comes to feedback, go for the insights that actually help you with your goals. Look for things that match up with your standards.If the feedback you get is not helpful, feel free to let it slide. This way, you're tuning into advice that really matters, making your journey a whole lot smoother and more aligned with what you're aiming for.

Pay attention to detailed feedback; it helps you identify areas for improvement and make informed choices. Feedback can be both positive and negative, so it's important to strike a balance. Embrace constructive criticism for growth, and appreciate positive feedback for your strengths.

Balancing positive and negative feedback in self-improvement is like cultivating a vibrant garden (your skills and confidence). Just as a garden thrives on a balanced mix of sunshine (positive reinforcement) and rain (constructive criticism), your growth benefits from both positive and negative feedback.

Always Always Always have high standards towards WHO can give you feedback. Take feedback from people who inspire you, who have done what you have done, whose experiences you value and whose intention you can trust. Last one is the most important. The next step is to ask for a clarification on WHY they gave you this specific feedback. This will give you a more clear picture.

Make sure you understand the feedback that is given to you. Vague feedback can be interpreted in many ways, so ask for clarification.

Changing how we see and understand feedback helps boost our confidence. Really, getting feedback is a way to grown and to improve ourselves.

By reframing how we perceive and interpret feedback, we can cultivate a healthier self-image and self-talk that fosters confidence and resilience. Embracing feedback as a tool for self-improvement can lead to greater personal and professional development.

You know you the best. You are in charge of which feedback you listen to. Be critical. People have different opinions and make sure the feedback they give you align with your vision and your goals.