06. The Monday Break(Through) 003 - Why Kindness Is More Powerful Than Criticism

In this Monday Break(Through) episode, I’m challenging the toxic culture of unnecessary critique and self-doubt in the design world. Let’s talk about why kindness—not criticism—creates stronger creative communities and helps you grow as a designer. Whether it’s dealing with social media negativity or shutting down your inner critic, this episode is all about choosing compassion over cynicism and thriving because of it.

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Hey everyone, welcome to this week’s Monday Break(Through).

Last week, I came across a post on Instagram by Will Paterson that really struck a chord. It said something like: “Treat others with kindness, or don’t say anything at all.” And honestly, if you see something that isn’t your cup of tea, just keep scrolling.

Simple, right? But it hit me hard because we, as designers, can be brutal—not just to others but to ourselves as well. And let’s be real: sometimes we just don’t know the difference between being constructive and being a jerk.

From what I see, a lot of people in social media comments seem to confuse constructive criticism with negativity. I mean, if you really have to say something that isn’t kind—and let’s be clear, you don’t—you could send a message or an email to the person directly. Explain why you feel that way. Help them learn, if you can, and be kind. Otherwise, just let it go. Keep scrolling. Trust me, it’s that easy. We scroll for hours every day—one more scroll won’t hurt.

But let’s take it a step further. If what you’re about to say doesn’t help, isn’t constructive, and is just negativity dressed up as a valid opinion—well, maybe just shove it somewhere else.

As designers, we live in a community built on sharing and collaboration. You can’t be a designer if you don’t put your work out there, and, let’s be honest, if you don’t put yourself out there. But the truth is, not every opinion needs to be shared.

If you see something you don’t like or think could be better, ask yourself:
• Am I being constructive?
• Am I offering something that could actually help this person grow?

If the answer is yes, share it—but do it with kindness. And if possible, do it privately. That person will appreciate it.

But if your opinion is just there to show how much smarter or more talented you think you are… yeah, maybe keep it to yourself. Our industry doesn’t need more negativity for the sake of it. Trust me, after over 15 years in this space, I can tell you: we’ve got plenty of that already.

And then there’s the other side of this—the way we talk to ourselves.

If you’re anything like me, your inner critic can be ruthless. It’s that voice that picks apart every detail of your work, tells you you’re not good enough, and convinces you you’ll never measure up. It’s that asshole living rent-free in your head.

Here’s the deal: You’ve got to shut that voice down when it crosses the line. Sure, it’s fine to reflect and look for ways to improve, but when your inner critic is just tearing you apart, tell it to fuck off. Then ask yourself:
• What did I learn from this?
• What can I do better next time?

And after that? Let it go. Move on. Be kind to yourself. You can’t grow if you’re constantly beating yourself up for not being perfect.

And here’s the best part—kindness works like ripples in a pond.

When you’re kind to someone—whether it’s with thoughtful feedback, support, or encouragement—it spreads. It creates a space where people feel safe to share their work, take risks, and grow.

And when you’re kind to yourself, you make room for creativity and progress. You let yourself try new things. Maybe you fail, but you’ll be ready to try again.

Seriously, imagine if we all took a second to pause before we shared something or stopped treating our inner voice like it was the ultimate authority. How much better, more creative, and more connected would our community be?

So, here’s your challenge for the week:
1. If you feel the urge to critique someone’s work, pause. Ask yourself: Is this actually helpful? If it is, share it kindly. If it’s not, keep scrolling—or shove it somewhere nobody will see it.
2. And when your inner critic gets too loud, tell it to shut up. Replace the negativity with constructive self-talk. Focus on what you’ve learned and what you can do next.

That’s it!

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Monday Break(Through). I hope this gives you something to think about—whether it’s how you treat others or how you talk to yourself.

If this message resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How are you practicing kindness in your work—toward clients, collaborators, or yourself? Drop me a message, leave a comment, or shout it from the rooftops.

Until next week, keep creating, keep growing, and remember: Kindness is what builds better creative communities—and better designers. See you next time.