Carl Jung once said, “We always require an outside point to stand on, in order to apply the lever of criticism.”
As I’ve said before, objectivity. An outside view, an observer who is not inside the organization, or the family, or the mind of an individual.
So here are some thoughts on Jung’s statement:
- It is impossible to be self-objective. We need, by definition, someone else to look at our situation, whether in business or in family life, and give us that outside view.
- Criticism, in it’s non-emotional form, is simply making constructive observations about the weaknesses or failures of a thing that should be strong and whole.
- A lever is a simple device, like a crowbar or a wheelbarrow. You can use it to move heavy objects, like your world.
- The person giving you that ‘outside point to stand on’ needs to be a trusted source of criticism. Opinions don’t necessarily rise to the level of constructive criticism.
