Accepting the truth of hard messages

Abstract

Hard messages are often difficult to take. If we have been working hard on a project or with a group, we can feel hard done by when our contribution is not fully appreciated. Direct criticism can be painful. But the harder the message, the more important it can be. Sometimes we delude ourselves and need to hear the truth. Sometimes we need to accept that we are not going to progress any further in terms of promotion or that a relationship is not going to be redeemed. Accepting the hard reality of our limitations is difficult, but it is folly to ignore the message. Accepting hard messages can sometimes take us to insights about ourselves that build new confidence which is more realistic and sustaining.