Psychologies

thinking

How do those seemingly bullet-proof people who shrug off criticism do it? This morning, I got an email pointing out that an article I wrote featured products containing single-use plastics. I hadn’t done anything wrong – the sender simply felt their product would have been a better alternative. While others might see the email as a clumsy PR move, I let it noodle away in my brain, leaving a lingering sense of failure.

It’s not an isolated incident. I’ve had several encounters where I’ve cracked under criticism, questioning my motives and self-worth. One that sticks out is the time my son’s teacher phoned to request a meeting because a parent had made a complaint about his behaviour towards their child. My husband and I had arranged a rare date afternoon, so were in the cinema when the teacher rang. I felt like a terrible parent for being at the movies when I ought to have been available to

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Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald is a chartered clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, keynote speaker, and the author of several books, including Reworked: Putting Health And Happiness At The Centre Of Your Career (John Murray Press, £16.99). @stephfitzwr

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