What if your criticism is revealing something about what you really care about?

We seem to have an abundance of criticism and critics these days.

People express their displeasure about their bosses, their companies, their organizations, and don't get me started on sports!

I'm reminded of Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech:

"It is not the critic who counts... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."

I've been wondering if criticism is somehow a more comfortable place to stand, even though it keeps us out of the arena and powerless on the sidelines.

When frustration leads to criticism, maybe that's an invitation to look a little deeper. Three questions worth considering:

• Why does this matter to me?
• What do I wish were different?
• What am I willing to contribute to make it better?

Something empowering grows when we begin to shift from critic to contributor.

We don't have to gloss over the problems that frustrate us. There is power in seeing the problems while seeking to make a positive impact.

And that shift changes our relationship with the very thing we were criticizing.