What Buddhism Teaches About Criticism 

The Buddha compared life’s ups and downs to the eight worldly concerns, or opposite conditions that continually challenge us: pleasure and pain, gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and disrepute. This means we all experience these pairs—no one knows only pleasure without pain, or only gains without loss. By embracing this truth, we realise there's no need to cling to the good or desperately push away the bad. In Buddhism, criticism is viewed as something natural; like the wind, it comes and goes. Some days it blows hard, other days it passes quietly. Nothing stays forever.  

Opinions shift, people change, and circumstances evolve. One moment we are praised, the next we are blamed. If our sense of worth depends on what others say, we’ll always be at their mercy.  

Peace comes from understanding that everything is impermanent. People’s opinions change, just like the weather. By accepting that opinions and circumstances are outside our control, we stop taking them personally and gain security from this profound understanding. 

Why Criticism Hurts 

Criticism stings because it touches our ego, our sense of ‘self’. When someone points out a flaw, disagrees with our idea, or questions our worth, our instinct is to defend or withdraw. Beneath that reaction lies attachment — the desire to be seen in a certain way, to be right, or to be liked. 

Sometimes, we hurt not because of what was said but because of what we fear it means about ourselves. A small comment such as “You could’ve handled that better” can quickly spiral into thoughts like I’m not capable or I’m always the problem. The mind takes one single comment and builds an entire false story around it. 

For example, imagine a colleague giving feedback on your presentation, saying that it felt “a bit rushed.” It seems like a pretty neutral comment, but if you’re already struggling with self-doubt, that feedback might feel like rejection. The discomfort comes not from their words, but from your own unexamined belief that you must always be perfect. 

Understanding this is the first step to freedom; you become free to choose not to be hurt by the opinion of others. We cannot control what others say, but we can soften how we hold those words. Criticism becomes lighter when we stop tying our self-worth to every opinion that comes by. 

Five Ways to Deal with Criticism 

We don’t have to feel shaken or reactive when we are being criticised. Here are some simple, practical tools to help us stay balanced and grounded. 

 1. Don’t Fight Back 

The first impulse when we feel attacked is to fight back. But reacting with anger only creates more pain for both sides. If someone criticises you unfairly, try pausing before you respond. Take a breath. Notice how you feel and the urge to defend yourself. 

When you respond from a calm state of mind instead of an emotional one, you maintain your peace. Sometimes silence or a simple “Thank you, I’ll think about that” can be more powerful than any argument. The Buddha reminds us that you make things worse when you flare up at someone who’s angry. Whoever doesn’t flare up at someone who’s angry wins a battle hard to win. You live for the good of both — your own, the other’s —when, knowing the other’s provoked, you mindfully grow calm.  

2. See Criticism as Feedback 

Not all criticism is meant to hurt. Some of it can show us areas for self-improvement if we listen without pride. Reflect upon what is said and ask yourself if there is any truth or if there is some learning in it. 

It doesn’t mean you must agree with everything said, but being open to feedback helps you grow. Even when the delivery is harsh, there might be a grain of insight hidden within. If you see criticism as information rather than an insult, it becomes a tool for self-understanding. 

3. Practice Compassion 

When someone speaks sharply or unfairly, it often comes from their own pain or frustration. While it doesn’t excuse their behaviour, it helps you meet it with compassion instead of resentment. Think that they must be struggling too. That small shift in mindset can ease tension and prevent hurt from turning into hostility.  

Empathy allows space for both your feelings and theirs, free from harsh judgement. 

4. Let It Go, Because Nothing Lasts 

All emotions, both pleasant and painful, eventually pass. The sting of criticism feels heavy in the moment, but like every gust of wind, it fades. 

Reminding yourself of this truth helps you avoid exaggerating the importance of others’ opinions. People forget, circumstances change, and you continue to grow. What matters more than what was said is how you actively nurture your own peace in the midst of the challenge. 

5. Develop Balance 

In Buddhist teachings, the balance of the mind is a sign of wisdom. When you learn to stay steady in both praise and blame, your happiness no longer depends on what others think. 

Cultivating balance doesn’t mean being indifferent. It means caring deeply without being thrown off course by every opinion. You can acknowledge feedback, reflect on it, and remain at ease. When we learn to listen with balance, we become open enough to grow, yet grounded enough not to lose ourselves. When we do this, criticism becomes something that helps us see clearly, rather than something that hurts us. 

Finding Peace Beyond Opinions 

When we accept criticism as part of life’s changing winds, we start to let go of our concern about other people's opinions. We don’t have to become immune to words, but we can respond with awareness rather than a reaction. 

You can ask yourself: 

What can I learn from this? 

Is my response kind and honest? 

Can I let this pass without holding on to it? 

The answers to these questions can help move you toward peace, not by changing the world, but by calming your own heart.  

Every experience, including painful ones, can help strengthen the mind. Criticism is one of those quiet teachers. It reveals where we’re still sensitive, where the ego still clings, and where compassion can grow. 

When you approach criticism with steadiness, you stop being ruled by others' opinions and start living your own truth. Peace isn't about avoiding life's challenges but about being unshaken by them. And when you live from that place of calm, you bring calm to those around you, too. 

Closing Note 

Criticism is inevitable, but suffering from it is not. By pausing, listening, and responding mindfully, you cultivate understanding that goes beyond words.