The Optimization of the Critic

There is a need to feel productive. But there is an imperative to be my own man—a set of scales upset by a violent wind. First, I set a goal. Then I try to accomplish a task. Next, I find the schedule is too rigid. Then I forget about it for a week, a month, for an entire season. Another project has been killed and slaughtered because it wasn’t perfect.

The critic uses this behavior as an addition to his tally of things I’ve done wrong—an all-time high score. Grace tells him, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

But I’m tired of wrestling. I’m tired of a lot of things. I want to use my remaining time to build something useful. I want to leave something behind that can impact others—something for which my children will remember me. 

So I examine and analyze my experiences, emotions, and beliefs. With this analysis, I try to categorize bits of prose and poetry into reflections, musings, and poems. Imagine my joy when I start to recognize that I can let mastery of the creative process and an endearing love of the written word supersede self-criticism.

And just because I love the critic and don’t want him to be out of a job, I let him assist with the editing. He doesn’t like change, but he is adjusting. Hopefully, keeping him busy and showing my appreciation for his skill will instill a more optimistic purpose.

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October 7, 2022frankie1 CommentsOctober 6, 2022
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One Comment

  1. Anthoni

    This is a very inspiring message to embrace the inner critic and use it to move you forward
    instead of holding you back. When ever I feel over whelmed by the critic I will breathe come
    back here read this and take a step forward, embrace the critic, and move ahead.

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