Everyone is a critic, and when you are doing your thing, being you, they will eventually come out of the shadows and strike. Usually when you least expect it. Little snide remarks in most cases. Sometimes a back-handed compliment. Once in a great while, they will give it straight to you, something along the lines of, “I don’t like you and what you are saying or doing, you suck.” It’s rare, but it does happen.

Honestly I have more respect for a critic, or naysayer, that comes straight at me and pulls no punches. It’s the weasley back-handed, passive-aggressive one’s that I can’t stand. The one’s that say shit to others, but don’t have the balls to say it to you. The one’s who “joke” with you while handing out their dose of venom. The one’s that when you confront them, they say, “I was just kidding, it was just a joke.” The one’s that could “do it better” than you are doing it.

For you guys that could “do it better than me,” instead of talking shit to other’s, why don’t you just shut your fucking mouths and do it then? Write your own goddamn blog posts and make your own videos. Do your own shows. If you don’t like it, don’t read it, don’t watch it, move on, and do your own?

I’d let you get to me, but I’ve got shit to do. While you are talking shit to other’s, I’m busy doing my thing. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade my life for yours. Keep on talking shit, it’s all you’re good at anyways. Keep consuming instead of producing. Keep on reading my shit and watching my videos, you’re just adding to my traffic count and my analytics. You’re actually not a “hater,” you’re a fan.

Critics will show up the more you do your thing and live your life, and they don’t matter. Critics don’t matter at all, except one:

The Inner Critic. The critic that resides deep inside each and every one of us. That’s the only one that matters, and it’s your job to listen to that critic, because every once in awhile, that critic actually offers some insight and some good advice. Most of the time though, your job is to either ignore that fucker, just like you would ignore the critics of the world, or it’s your job to shut that fucker up.

Prove that critic wrong. Show him that yes, you can. And you will. Push beyond the doubt and the fear and do it anyway. Do it out of spite if you have to. Do it, whatever it takes.

Here’s something I’ve realized while running my mouth, I’ve got way more guys who are thanking me for what I’m doing than dipshits who “could do it better.” Mostly I do what I do for myself, it’s me making mental notes and figuring my own shit out as I go, but I also do this for those of you that find it, to let you know you are not alone out there in the dark. I’m leaving “bread crumbs” in the forest. I’m holding a torch. I’m letting you know you aren’t crazy, it’s the world that is crazy, and you’ve known that for a long time. Welcome to sanity.

So for you that have found this and found me, I’m glad you’re here. Honestly you were never lost in the first place, you just had to burn for awhile. I get it, I’ve been there and done that too. And I’m positive I’ll be setting myself on fire again in short order, because that’s part of what I do.

Here’s what I would like you to do though, should you choose to accept it:

Boost the signal.

You were wandering around, setting yourself on fire with your head up your ass, and yet you started unfucking yourself by whatever means were necessary. Help the next guy out. I’m not saying embrace him while he’s burning, that’s not your job. You’re not here to save him. Just boost the signal. Start your own blog of your own journey of unfucking yourself. Talk about the stupid shit you have done to yourself. Start your own video channel. Boost the signal. Leave your own bread crumbs around for other’s to find. Light your own torch in the dark for other’s to see their way.

I don’t want to be too cliched, but “build it and they will come.” It’s what has been showing up in my life. Maybe you’ll say something that I haven’t heard before. Maybe you’ll say something in a different way than I do. Maybe you’ll say it better than I ever could. And all of that is necessary and needed.

To my Inner Critic, I’m listening and I’m summarily ignoring you in most cases, and in others, I’m choosing to do something just to spite you.

To all of my other critic’s, thank you for being my fans. You make me laugh and smile. When I hear from you, whether you come straight at me or you play sneaky bastard behind my back, I know I’m doing it right because I’m irritating you.

Sharpen Your Mind. Weaponize It. Start here and here. Sign up for my newsletter.