Today we have Catherine from Small Town, Big Wardrobe. We met through #BlogTrends and have connected further over our common Midwestern roots. I’m so excited for you to read her post, since it’s something I often struggle with as well.

I am a sensitive soul.

I mentally rehash every gesture, tone and word. I get my feelings hurt very easily. And I do not do well with criticism – though it’s something I’ve worried much about until a few weeks ago.

After my Marie Claire post on statement necklaces went live, one Twitter follower responded (and I’m paraphrasing), “She needs a better fitted and lifting bra.”

First thought: What?

Second thought (if I’m being honest): B*tch!

Third thought: I should not take random strangers’ comments so seriously.

Ok, so to be fair, as far as criticisms go, this is pretty tame. Maybe all my readers are just really nice or maybe they’re keeping their not-so-nice thoughts to themselves, but I hadn’t had to deal with criticism until that comment.

One of the benefits of blogging is how much I learn from my readers and fellow bloggers. I don’t post my pictures to fish for compliments (I actually have trouble taking a compliment in person). I post them because my outfits are my form of self-expression. Posting outfit photos has been a (sometimes feeble) exercise in boosting my self-esteem, and I have really enjoyed sharing a small part of my life on my blog. But part of putting myself out there is dealing with those who may have something negative to say.

So this is me dealing the best way I know – through a blog post that I hope you all will contribute to, negatively or otherwise. I started blogging to have a conversation. And I want to hear how you deal with criticism – and how I can learn to handle it better.

How do you deal with criticisms?