FUCK THE CRITICS!
It’s Easy to Criticise, Hard to Create!
Creation is an act of bravery. It’s the spark that turns ideas into reality, the messy process of building something from nothing. Yet, in a world where opinions are instant and critiques come easy, the work of a creator often feels like walking a tightrope without a net—delicate, precarious, and fully exposed. Why is it sometimes so easy to criticise but hard to create.
Why Criticism Feels Loud
Criticising is reactive and effortless. It doesn’t require understanding or risk, just an opinion and a platform. Creation, on the other hand, demands courage, persistence, and vulnerability. It’s a process full of invisible labour—the brainstorming, late nights, and self-doubt no one sees.
Critics underestimate this effort. They judge what’s visible, ignoring the work beneath the surface. But creators know the truth: building something worthwhile is never easy.
As Theodore Roosevelt famously said:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
How to Keep Building
When criticism feels overwhelming, remember these truths:
Creating takes courage. Stepping into the arena is harder than pointing from the sidelines.
Not all voices matter. Focus on the audience who sees and values your work.
Progress beats perfection. Growth comes from doing, not from getting it perfect the first time.
Using Criticism as Fuel
Not all criticism is bad. Filter feedback by asking:
Is it specific and actionable?
Does it align with my goals?
Can it help me grow?
When criticism meets these criteria, use it to improve. Otherwise, let it go.
Celebrate Creation
Every project you complete is a victory. You’re choosing to build instead of tear down, to contribute instead of consume. That’s extraordinary.
So, keep going. The world needs more creators, not critics.
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So, until next time…