A huge part of living a full and creative life is handling feedback. Nearly anytime you put something out into the world, whether it’s a conversation, a blog post, or a presentation at work, you open yourself up to the opinions of others. Talk about a double-edged sword…

I would argue that feedback, like pretty much anything else in life, is good only in moderation. A few of the best outcomes of feedback include:

• Making a connection with someone else
• Finding ways to improve your craft
• Learning from another’s perspective
• Getting positive reinforcement from your work

Of course, there’s a less positive side, too. Not all feedback is candy and roses. Add in some of the downsides of feedback:

• Taking your critics too seriously
• Believing your own hype
• Worrying about what others want you to say instead of your own voice

Blogging is all about feedback, so this has been on my mind quite a bit.  I actually took a break from reading comments for a few days to see if it had any effect on my writing style and creative drive.  (If you’ve been waiting for a response, this is why. I’ll be diving back into communications in the next couple of days.)  To my surprise, it only took a short period of time to feel a swing in the creative pulse. I started to wonder what it was that I wanted to talk about, regardless of other factors. It was eye-opening, to say the least!

Be honest with yourself about all feedback you receive. Not all feedback is created equal. Some people may be using your work to air some personal grievance. Another might simply be looking for attention. Some people truly have your best interests at heart, others… not so much. In the end, not all feedback is really about you, so trust your instincts about what to take seriously and what to let go of.

Have a stock comment ready for negative critiques. Being criticized hurts. My first instinct is usually to defend myself. This doesn’t actually help anyone, and it can actually hurt folks who are just trying to share an honest opinion with me. My solution is to have a stock answer ready that acknowledges their concern, but gives me a graceful exit. Then, I can process the critique on my own time with a more open mind. A simple, “I hadn’t though of that. I’ll give it some consideration,” can work without binding you to any specifics.

Try creating something just for yourself every once in a while. Forgetting about feedback is a great way to reconnect with your own voice. When the critical consensus doesn’t matter, you’re free to experiment and completely screw up. You may find things you love, things you hate, and things you can’t wait to show off. You may eventually decide to go public with these private creations, and that’s fine. Connecting with your uncensored voice provides a dose of that all-important balance.

Have a partner to bounce things off of. Whether it’s an online friend, a coworker, or a spouse, running any important feedback you receive by a third party can sort the helpful from the hurtful.  Make sure your third party knows that it’s safe to be honest, but for your own sake, share with someone who has tact.

What works for you? How does feedback play into your creativity—as a benefit or a hindrance?