I won't match your energy
Overlooking criticism
Most people feel the urge to clap back when someone upsets them emotionally. But isn’t that exhausting? To constantly feel like you have to match everyone’s energy?
Personally, I choose not to.
And while many people would agree with me, not everyone puts it into practice—often because they see not reacting as a sign of weakness.
But refusing to match someone’s energy isn’t about being a punk. It’s about knowing your worth so well that you don’t need to engage with every bit of negativity thrown your way.
When you react to every slight, you’re giving away energy that could be better spent on things that actually matter—like working toward your goals.
And matching energy isn’t just about responding in the same way someone treated you. It can also mean letting their negativity shape how you see yourself or how you think.
Let’s talk about it.
Overlooking criticism from others
At some point after reading this, someone will likely criticize you. You might notice it, or you might not.
If you don’t, you’ll just go about your day.
If you do, you’ll face a choice:
Dwell on it and spiral into negativity.
Overlook it and move forward.
Most people struggle with criticism because they let it discourage them. It’s easy to let someone’s words shake your confidence. But it takes real strength to stand firm and not let their opinions define you.
I won’t pretend it’s always easy to ignore criticism. But the more you practice choosing not to engage, the easier it becomes. Over time, it shifts your mindset and changes the way you handle challenges.
Instead of feeling discouraged when faced with criticism, recognize the power you have: you get to choose how you respond. And when you choose to overlook it, you’re building mental resilience—just like strengthening a muscle. The more you do it, the stronger and more unstoppable you become.
Being sure of my actions, even when i’m unsure about whether or not i’ll get criticized
This all comes down to confidence. But what if you don’t have any?
Here’s the thing—I don’t believe you need to be a super confident person to be sure of your actions. That’s just my perspective, and you don’t have to agree. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for a different way to see things.
The truth is, you don’t need unshakable confidence to stand by your decisions. Why? Because no matter how confident you are, you could still be criticized in the exact same way. Confidence doesn’t shield you from judgment—it just changes how you handle it.
When you understand that, you take the pressure off yourself. You don’t have to wait until you feel confident to take action. You just have to accept that criticism is out of your control, no matter what.
For me, I want to live in a way where I’m sure of my actions—where my choices aren’t swayed by fleeting emotions. And I want to inspire others to do the same. Because the real power isn’t in feeling confident all the time—it’s in acting with conviction, no matter how you feel.
Focusing more on my goals than on the possibility of whether or not i’ll get criticized
Everyone wants to be able to focus.
But what you choose to focus on—and whether you let criticism distract you—is entirely up to you.
So how do you stay focused on your goals despite the possibility of being criticized? Whether it’s the fear of judgment, actual criticism, or just the thought that someone might have something to say?
The truth is, no matter what you pursue, criticism is inevitable. Someone, somewhere, will always have an opinion.
That’s exactly why it’s worth developing the ability to stay focused regardless of what others think. When you stop worrying about people’s opinions, you free up energy to make real progress.
Highly successful people don’t achieve their goals because they never face criticism. They achieve them because they’ve decided their goals matter more than outside noise.
A helpful way to reframe this? Focus on how your goals can help others. If you pursue something with the mindset that you’re creating value, improving lives, or making an impact, it becomes easier to ignore criticism. Because at the end of the day, your purpose is bigger than their opinions.
Valuing God’s grace over other people’s approval
Ultimately, things are in God’s hands. No matter what you expect, that will always be the case. Other people don’t have the power to determine your future—only God does.
You might think, "But if someone doesn’t give me an opportunity, won’t that affect my future?" Not really.
Look at the bigger picture. If you missed out on something, it’s likely because something better is ahead—or because God was protecting you from something you weren’t meant to go through.
At the end of the day, the outcomes in our lives go beyond human logic. Yes, we should work hard and give our best effort. But when things don’t go as expected, we don’t need to be discouraged. Trust that what’s meant for you will come in its own time.