How should I respond when others criticize or do not believe me?

You can listen, while first distinguishing a reminder about a specific problem from a label based on a partial impression. Learn and adjust where improvement is possible. Mere cutting remarks need not draw you into arguing all day.

I discussed someone who helped voluntarily and accomplished much but was still accused of seeking fame. Know your motive and whether you have acted with a clear conscience, rather than waiting only for outside approval. Sometimes people call a better purchase extravagant without knowing your budget and arrangements. Such partial comments may not see the whole situation.

Discussing verbal attacks, Dao Jing described remembering that personal value is not determined by another person's remark. If someone calls you ugly, you still have beautiful qualities. You may smile and move on, do something you like, or look at things that make you happy. Dao Jing first clarified having no experience of domestic violence and was sharing verbal experiences. These cannot be used to demand that someone experiencing violence simply endure it.

Some people troubled over time by hostile neighbors or workplace conflicts seek religious assistance to cut harmful entanglements. Still, understand the actual problem before deciding how to face it. The service fees I introduced then belonged to those arrangements at that time. What help is actually needed depends on the circumstances.

When good deeds are questioned, return to the original intention too. Discussing news about fundraising for pandemic supplies, I focused on why we wished to help and not withdrawing that intention simply because someone misunderstood. Unclear matters still need understanding, and later controversies still require attention. Good intentions and responsibility need to go together.

Sharp online speech can sometimes be understood from another perspective. We discussed the possibility that some people lead difficult lives and use the internet as an emotional outlet. Some public figures leave that space available while continuing to use their influence for good. This taught me greater acceptance and less anger at every remark. It was one possibility discussed then, not knowledge of every critic's inner concerns.

At work, distinguish comments about the work from comments about you as a person. Someone disliking this design may simply find it unsuitable, rather than reject you. We do not agree with everyone's approach either. Clarifying what is being discussed prevents one opinion from becoming a judgment that everything about you is bad.

After criticism, first calm yourself. Do not immediately decide the other person must be right and you wrong. Correct genuine shortcomings without taking every false label upon yourself. Reflection is meant to improve matters, rather than erode confidence and lead to rejecting your whole self.

How well a commenter knows you can inform understanding, but it cannot be the only standard. Miao Yuan reminded us that close friends can be too emotionally involved and may not know everything. I agree. Even with a best friend, examine whether what they say makes sense instead of following everything simply because they are close.

Having principles does not mean deciding you never need to change. Principles should accord with fairness and justice. Learn and adjust when advice genuinely helps. With malicious personal attacks, however, you need not hand your entire self over for judgment. Accepting everything and listening to nothing are both extremes.

I have not always been unaffected myself. Early on, strangers who did not understand me accused me of deception simply because of religion or mediumship, and it genuinely hurt. Gradually I redirected attention to people who seriously sought understanding and offered support. Seeing our contributions, they gave me strength to continue. We cannot require the whole world to like us, but we can cherish this trust.

Disbelief is another person's choice. Having chosen this path, I still need to be responsible for my work. Be grateful for support and continue demanding competence from yourself. Without applause, look back at why you began and whether you are doing what should be done. This is more than listening only to praise. It means not letting groundless attacks replace the direction of serious work.

My family had financial difficulties when I was young, and my mother was hurt by others looking down on her and speaking unkindly. I told her that other people's words belong to them and we cannot control everything they say. We still need to consider whether our conduct accords with conscience. But understanding this does not make it immediately achievable. Letting words pass takes practice. People's ability to bear negativity differs, and continued hurt does not prove poor spiritual practice.