The Shocking Truth About Negative Feedback on Blogs and How Tutors Can Thrive Despite It

 When we write, it feels like we are putting our heart and soul out there for the world to see.

Our thoughts belong to us and are a core part of who we are, so when we get negative feedback, it feels like a personal attack.

The ego steps in, triggering the fight or flight response.

We either want to fight back and defend ourselves or retreat in solitude, replaying the negative comments over and over again.

These negative thoughts can unleash prior critical comments we've received, adding to our self-worth bucket and making us think they must be right. But here’s the thing: your writing is separate from you; it is not who you are.

Reframing Your Mindset

To handle negative feedback more constructively, let's analyze what they are saying.

If they notice a grammatical error or punctuation mistake, thank them for it.

You can go in and edit it, thinking of them as your personal editor who just saved you before too many more people saw it.

Second, use ChatGPT. You can type in your blog post and then ask it to not change your wording but just fix grammar and punctuation.

You can even use ChatGPT to make your writing better. This does not mean having ChatGPT write the whole thing for you and then copy-pasting it. That would be a terrible idea.

In fact, when you write with ChatGPT versus having AI do the writing, your content will be more original and not sound like everyone else's.

Building Resilience and Confidence

I like to go by the rule of three.

If three or more people are saying the same thing, then I need to listen to what they are saying and reflect on how I could do better.

If it seems like someone is just grumpy and not really adding value but being hurtful, there are two things you can do.

You can brush it off and think they must be having a bad day. We never know what is going on for other people and what they are going through personally.

I can ask myself, "Is this true?" If it is not true, then I can say what is more true.

The third thing I do is pray for that person. They are unaware of how hurtful their words are to other people. I can only imagine how dissatisfied they are with life. Just remember that hurt people hurt people.

So even though you may want to respond in a defensive manner, pray for them. When you do this, it releases the control they have over you. Try it for 30 days when someone does something that is hurtful to you.

See how your perspective changes.

Responding to Negative Feedback Professionally

First, decide if the comment warrants a response.

If it does, respond in the most respectful tone you can.

Before you post, take what you have written and put it into ChatGPT. Ask it to determine the tone of the writing. This will give you a third-party perspective. If it says it is professional, kind, or understanding, you can continue to post.

If it senses other emotions, it will tell you, and then you can ask it to help you revise it in a more professional and understanding tone.

Turning Negative Feedback into Positive Opportunities

In the beginning, I created a ton of videos. I had a few people who hated my headset. In fact, I had three people comment about it.

I wear a headset because it puts me in the zone, and when I am working with my young students with soft voices, I can hear them better.

I took offense the first time I heard it, but then I asked the people in my tutoring community what they thought about my headset. I got a very different perspective.

Some people had purchased the same headset because they loved it. Others said it was part of my brand.

Here is the thing: people who do not create content are not getting found online. But people who are creating content are getting found online.

So today, when I get negative feedback, I think, "I am getting found." People can't hire me if they can't find me. I am getting found and getting hired.

That is the goal.

As some people say, haters are gonna hate. In response to that, don't hate the hater; send blessings and well wishes their way.

Final Thoughts

Negative feedback can be daunting, but it doesn't have to hold you back.

By reframing your mindset, building resilience, responding professionally, and turning criticism into opportunities for growth, you can overcome the fear of negative feedback and continue to create valuable content.

Remember, your writing is not who you are, and the more you put yourself out there, the more you will get found and hired.

Keep creating, keep learning, and keep growing.