We all experience criticism in our lives, and while it can be hard to take, constructive criticism can be one of the best learning tools we have. The people who really care about you and your training will give you the feedback you want and need. But then there are those OTHER people. The people who see their own flaws too clearly in the reflection of your achievements. While they may not consciously want you to fail, their actions and statements can be a blatant attempt to subvert the efforts to better yourself. I’ve recently had a heavy dose of this directed toward me, specifically toward my efforts at being in the best physical shape I can be. This is nothing new to me, and I am sure it is quite common to thousands of you out there in the blogosphere. Typically I take it with a smile, and brush it off. But I have reached my breaking point. I have lost all tolerance for negative people, and the virus of self-doubt that they spread.
It seems so innocuous at first. The friend who insists that you don’t need to stick to your diet when you are spending time with them, or even the family member insisting that you are only going to hurt yourself if you continue to workout like you do. What is really happening here is they are encouraging you to remain the way that you are. They know you the way you are, and they are comfortable with that. They are afraid that the positive change you are making in your body will make their body that much worse.  While they may not be purposefully trying to hurt  your efforts, they are and it is a selfish act.

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