There is something I've been thinking about for a long time. Criticism and obsession look almost identical at the beginning. Someone disagrees with something you've built. They don't like a decision you made.
Maybe they think you handled a situation poorly. That's normal. That's healthy.
In fact, some of the best improvements I've ever made came from people willing to tell me I was wrong.
But criticism has a destination. It exists to solve a problem.
Once the problem is solved, criticism moves on.
Obsession doesn't. Obsession needs another chapter.
I've watched this happen enough now that I can recognize the pattern. It starts with one disagreement.
Then another. Eventually it isn't about the disagreement anymore.
It becomes about you.
Suddenly every project you build is proof. Every tweet becomes evidence. Every success has to be explained away. Every mistake becomes confirmation. Every attempt to defend yourself is manipulation. Every apology is fake. Every act of kindness has an ulterior motive. Every moment of silence becomes guilt.
There is no correct answer anymore.
Because the conclusion was written long before the evidence arrived.
Readers Club
Join the readers club and read every post.
It's all free. Create an account, then come back whenever you want to keep reading.
Comments