Rising above the noise: Learn from Lizzie Velásquez’s masterclass on handling negative feedback
As writers and creators, dealing with negative feedback is a right of passage.
How we handle it, though, is up to us. We can let that crush us or motivate us.
Lizzie Velásquez, who was born with a rare cognitive disease, chose the latter.
When someone posted a YouTube video calling her “the ugliest person in the world,” Velásquez could have retreated from the public eye.
But instead, she used the experience to fuel her passion for advocacy.
Today, Velásquez is an anti-bullying activist who uses her own experiences to educate and inspire others.
She has given multiple TED talks and written books about her life and her message.
She didn’t stop there.
She then went on to create a non-profit organization, the Lizzie Velásquez Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness of bullying and promoting kindness and compassion.
Changing lesgitlations
Velásquez’s advocacy work has also led to changes in legislation. In 2015, she testified before the US Congress in support of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which aimed to address bullying and harassment in schools.
In addition to her speaking engagements, Velásquez has written several books. Her memoir, Lizzie Beautiful, details her experiences with bullying and the impact it had on her life. She has also written children’s books, including “Be Beautiful, Be You” and “Choosing Happiness.”
In 2019, Velásquez produced and starred in a documentary titled A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velásquez Story, which chronicles her journey from a victim of bullying to an anti-bullying activist and inspires viewers to choose kindness and compassion.
In an interview with Forbes, she said:
“I learned a long time ago that there are always going to be people who don’t like you or don’t understand you. But that’s okay. You have to focus on the people who do understand you and who support you. Those are the people who matter.”
Choose wisely
So the next time you get negative feedback on an article you wrote, or if someone makes a YouTube video calling you “The worst writer ever,” will you let it crush you or inspire you?
The choice is yours.
Choose wisely