Wednesday, July 08, 2009

How Well Do You Handle Correction?

Correction is never an easy thing. I have not met one person in my 47 years of life that loved or welcomed correction.

When I was a child, I didn’t deal with correction well. It wasn’t easy for me to take correction because I saw it as being rejected. I would shut down emotionally. If that was a problem still then editing my book would have been torture. I learned so much during that process and believe it or not it was a pleasant experience.

I’m grateful that God helped me to learn that this was part of life. If I want to be a writer then rejection is in my future. One of my favorite authors, besides Ted Dekker, is Frank Peretti. His first novel was rejected 17 times before a publisher took a chance on him. I’m so glad he didn’t give up.

Correction is hard to take, but I do believe I handle it much better now. After I stick my head in the sand and realize it’s hard to breathe down there, I brush myself off and forge ahead. Whenever I do this, my reward comes quickly. I’ve grown as a person. There is satisfaction in not quitting and completing a task.

Dealing with correction gets easier, but still it’s not fun. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Forge ahead to the end of the rainbow.

© Nadine Zawacki 2009

13 comments:

chelle said...

Correction is way hard to take a times, yet I always fell better when I receive good corrections and I follow through.

I think the hardest part is being able to weed through the good, bad and the not worth the trouble :)

Dawn said...

I don't like getting it or giving it! I'm glad you didn't give up!

I hope your knees are feeling better.

JEWELIA said...

It's much easier to recieve when I feel a person really cares about me. But I think all of us at one time or another feel rejected when we are corrected. But for me the recovery is much easier when there is "love"

Anonymous said...

Great advise!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Thoughtful post and sweetly written and very pretty water lilies.

eph2810 said...

You are right, Nadine. Taking correction is not easy, but it helps us grow.
I too like Frank Peretti's books :) - cool that he didn't give up...

Shionge said...

Yes it is hard but I suppose this will make us stronger and I'm glad you handle it well :D

Betsy Brock said...

I think it has a lot to do with how it is given, who from and if it is true. It's always hard to admit when you are wrong, though!

Jane - Mom Generations said...

I, too, think I've gotten better at handling correction (I tend to take it as rejection, as well), but it's still not easy for me. I have always wished I could be one of those people who lets things just slide off her back. Working on it! :-)

Scarlet said...

How encouraging! I handle correction when it's done with love or at least with good manners.

Without correction, where would we be??

Great post, Nadine! Missed you.

Louise said...

SO true!! It is definitely one of if not the hardest things, darn pride that gets in the way of learning sometimes!!
Thanks for sharing :)

Bex said...

there's a good way and a bad to be critical. the bad way never works. for anyone.

elizabeth embracing life said...

Corrections comes with some sober estimation of where it comes from. I have been challenged and grown so much from those who come alongside and offer correction that grows me and brings me into greter understandings of myself, correction that teaches, that embraces and that loves. I have had to stand back and just listen, accept without challenging another when I see hidden motives, injustice and walk away with a smile and hope that if there was truly something to hear my hears and eyes were open. I Love James for this very reason.