What the world needs is mentors and not critics

They say your words and actions must be aligned with the thoughts in your mind. “Obviously,” you would say, right?
It is not that easy as we think. Children tend to do that and speak what just crossed their mind. They do not think twice about the repercussions.
Somewhere along, after a few incidents of embarrassments, the adults train them to hold their tongue — so to speak they have to think twice. But by the time they get the hang of it takes a while and quite a few cute damages done.
When they do, they become like adults, withholding real thoughts. It is not all bad because if it is something negative, the impact of the comments on the recipients can have a lasting impression.
Once again, wise people say if you have nothing positive to say, do not say anything at all. Does that mean we cannot ever criticise or advise?
It all depends on how you say it. Critics are important because they make us grow if taken in the right light.
Of course it does matter if it is constructive criticism or not. Many a time, people criticise to bring someone down. The best thing is to give it a good analysis and see if there is room for improvement. If there is need for improvement, then incorporate it.
Most of us take it personally. What is important is to how to respond to criticism. Are we going to counter attack? Or do we consider criticism as an attack? We also come to the conclusion that the criticism is because a person does not like us.
But we have to put the criticism in the right perspective. If the words stated does not seem to be constructive, then just let them be. One cannot make everyone like them. Most of the time the words uttered is a consequence of the critic’s state of mind. To be an authentic critic, one needs the right qualifications and knowledge.
Everyone has a right to opinion and it is easy to like or unlike. Whereas a critique is a studied analysis, a critic states an opinion but in this broad category are also people who could be belittlers and fault-finders.
So it all goes back to the intentions of the words spoken or written — is to hurt or to guide?
The world today needs more nourishment than ever before because individuals have to be competitive and productive. In other words, the world needs more mentors than critics than ever before.
Age is not a limit as one has to remain competitive and evolve constantly. Many people opt not to retire, but move on to follow their heart after retirement. Wiser and experienced, they are an asset but might be reserved to actually seek assistance or guidance. This is where the younger mentors can play a crucial role. Instead of isolating the seniors, they can be made part of the ecosystem again.
An example is the digital world. There is every chance that a group of the community might skip the whole process evolving in the digital world.
In Oman, the latest example we have seen is the electronic nomination process for the Majlis Ash’shura elections. No other way is acceptable to send in the nominations. It indicates the importance of e-awareness and knowledge as well as assistance to spread the awareness which Information Technology Authority has implemented with great dedication.
So it might take time and criticism as well as impatience but we must remember it is important not to give up. If we are to just hold back ourselves, it would mean letting the world pass by.
So it is time to shift our mind and accept juniors as mentors.

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