Blame Softly

When does an observation become a criticism? From my perspective, I believe the transition from observation to criticism takes place when the content of the message is overshadowed by how it is communicated. While some people may derive satisfaction in criticizing, I believe most people do not intend to offend when they communicate their messages. If you do find yourself on the receiving end of an overly critical individual, remember these words from Benjamin Franklin, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”  Life would be a lot more pleasant if people followed the approach of Catherine the Great with her tendency to “praise loudly and blame softly”.