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Critics And Naysayers

Claudia Miclaus
Have you ever been discouraged or hurt by a critic or a naysayer? Well all of us have but, it is time to grow up. Don't let them sink your great ideas. There has never been a victory without a battle.
"No, you can't do that" or "No, that is not possible because of ... countless reasons"; these are the answers you will encounter when you speak to critics and naysayers. They have always been there and you'll surely find them throughout life. They seem to have a habit of seeing only the negative side of every little thing and you can't possible please them with anything because they'll surely find some fault to any idea of yours or anyone else's for that matter.
Have you met people who always seem to have a smile on their face? Everyone likes to be around them. They seem to have something pleasant and interesting to say every time you talk to them.
However, there are others who always seem to have a bad day. It is normal to have a bad day every now and then. All of us have to survive such times. Yet, between being grouchy days on end and having a pleasant attitude nearly every day, there is a huge difference.
Many great ideas die in the cradle when you happen to talk about them with people who only have negative things to say. Of course, this has a positive facet too because it makes you take into account some aspects you probably have not considered before. Still, if we are to look at all the negative stuff and never take any calculated risks, how could we make any progress? After all, crossing a street implies a risk too!
Enough with the negativity; let's go to the positive side. Yes, there is a balance in everything but many times critics and naysayers can cut your enthusiasm, and the will to continue might become a great achievement. That is why you have to be very realistic and not let yourself down when you know you can make your dream come true.
"It's not what's said about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself. Have the opinions of other people caused you to water down your dreams? One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don't have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don't set the limits for your life; you do.
In Romans 3:3, Apostle Paul says, "It doesn't matter if other people don't believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams."
When God puts a promise in your heart, it's not up to other people to bring it to pass, it's up to you! You don't need everyone to validate you. You have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to guide you.
God sees the hidden treasures that are buried inside you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams reality! As you get rid of old, defeated thoughts and replace them with what God says about you, you will remove the limits and live the abundant life God has in store for you!
Regardless of the things you want to do, you need a dose of courage. Regardless of path you choose, there will always be someone to notify you that you are making a mistake, and the obstacles arising will usually tempt you to think the naysayers were right. Nothing is ever perfect on this planet. So don't be dismayed by every barrier, but instead learn to overcome them and follow your good ideas to an end.
"If your heart acquires strength, you will be able to remove blemishes from others without thinking evil of them." Mohandas K. Gandhi
I chose a quote from Theodore Roosevelt's speech to end with:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement.
"Who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. "