Analize Vs. Criticize

I have a friend(s), and I am sure you do to... hopefully you are not that friend, who is very critical. This type of person looks at the negative in people and then feels the option to talk openly to me about all the flaws of that individual. When I meet with this person(s) I generally find myself looking for the opportunity to apply a different style approach to the perspective he is sharing. The great thing is this person(s) is open to listening, some person(s) aren't, don't be that friend that isn't open. The approach I apply is analyzing. So what is the difference? The difference is as big as it is small.


The largest concept that has taught me the most in life is learning to observe. It has become an art of mine. Here is a post from a while back of a conversation between me and a great friend of mine, RC.

RC: wow... dang dude... how'd you get so smart? like, I'm still shocked. for lack of a better term.
SM: lol, no idea
i dont see my self as smart as much as i would say i am an observer
learn to watch your world and learn from it
RC: ahhhh
SM: be experiential and allow everything to be a moment of Ahaa!
RC: I like that.

I would NEVER brag about being smart, however I would claim the skill of observing. You see, learning to observe is such a large part of my life that I put claim to the knowledge I have obtained as largely from the power of observation as much or more than study, reading and learning I have done over my lifetime. Now I would like to compare and contrast the difference between an analytical mindset and a critical mindset.

One comparison of the analytical vs. critical mindsets is - when we analyze we bring value to something, however a critical mindset tends to devalue and bring meaningless to something. See, when you are being critical of a person/system/program you begin to degrade it and reduce its value. One does this because their entire focus centers around the aspect of what doesn't work, what isn't great, etc... and almost always how they could do it better! So not only does this devalue someone/something it is also arrogant. This is not proper 'kaizen', a Japanese word for always understanding that you are doing the worst currently and there is a better way to do it for the sake of making small improvements to the whole for the better of all. Also 'hansei', which is a central idea in Japanese culture, meaning to acknowledge your own mistake and pledge improvement. Talk about the power of cultural language... to stop hansei means to stop learning altogether. This helps one to never become convinced of your own superiority so that you feel the openness to criticize others/systems/programs.

Analyzing is one of the main components of observation. Another comparison between the two is that observation creates self-worth in the one whom is observing because they are using the resources around them to view their world. They are not simply assuming nor asking someone else just to get a 'simple' answer, they are taking it upon themselves to observe what is the possible scenarios to analyze instead of assuming and criticizing. My dad use to always ask me if I assumed something wrong, "You know what happens when you assume?" I will not attempt to answer that question in the detail he would. However, I will say that flagrant assuming is asinine, but on the flip side there is power to assumption. In the world of observation I deduce the obvious to only a few relational options. How does the original attitude/act/scenario relate to the options? Then from there is where an act of common sense would be applied to our deduction, therefore not making a complete flagrant assumption, but instead a well-educated guess.

So how does this apply to how you observe a person/program/system? Maybe that boss isn't such an (insert explicative), maybe the program isn't the worst in the world, maybe the system isn't full of obvious flaws. Don't short-sight yourself for the sake of feeling mighty in criticism. You might want to read that previous line again. Criticism without corrective options is really inexcusable. So the boss/subordinate who has a bad attitude one day or never looks you in the eye, or whatever else "failure" he has in your eye, begin to see his/her strengths, focus on that. What would happen in your environment if you began to honor that person in their strength and then support them in their weakness. We tend to only see others weaknesses where we are strong. Take responsibility to the your own strength and be Aaron and Hur who held up Moses' arms as they were in battle. Just possibly you are gifted with strength exactly where your leaders is lacking in strength, just maybe that was not by accident, be responsible! Maybe he has unfair expectations, fine. Rise to those expectations and help him see the value in your reality instead of criticizing him and running your mouth to others to let them know how terrible of a leader he is. God knows he/she is in your life as your leader for a reason, what greater opportunity for you to learn and grow and develop your leadership skills. Don't ever take for granted the things that don't make sense, seem stupid or just meaningless!

Criticism without constructive corrective options is futile and unproductive!

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What's The Problem with Plan B?

When purchasing an item at a local store over the Christmas season a few months ago I was asked whether or not I wanted a gift receipt with my purchase. The thought struck me that if I included a gift receipt with my gift it would be like saying to the person- “I doubt you will really like this anyway, but here, take the credit and go get something you really want.” This is a type of 'plan B' approach to gift giving that also permeates the rest of our society as well.

Take for instance the instant replay - instead of instilling trust in the official on the football field, we’d better check the instant replay just in case.

Not that I think that things like gift receipts and instant replay are necessarily evil, but…
This 'plan B' mentality is also seen in areas of morality as well. “Sure we’d like our kids not to be having sex, but just in case, let’s make sure they’re prepared.” And marriages are doomed to failure before they even begin with plan B prenuptial. What if this doesn’t work out?

When I speak of a 'plan B' mentality, I am not really talking about wise planning - which is something we all ought to do. Rather, I am speaking of a mentality of settling for last resorts.

This subject is faith, and people of faith are not governed by “what if?”. They live life with an intense determination to pursue the will of God, and they let the pieces fall where they may.

They hold on to the promise found in 1 Cor. 1:9
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus, is faithful.” They also know the truth of Phil 1:6 that He who began a good work in us will see it through.

When God called me into ministry I dove in head first - and my responsibility is to trust God to work out the details. If this whole ministry gig doesn’t work out I’ll probably be homeless, because I’ve got no plan B, no contingency plan - and I don’t want one.

There are two problems that come to mind about having a plan B approach to life.

The first problem with plan B is that it is selfish (“me-centered”)

When we live with a last resort mentality, We have failed to understand that it isn’t always about us - take the gift idea as an example.

The gift really doesn’t reveal as much about the receiver as it does about the giver. A gift doesn’t therefore indicate the worthiness of the receiver to deserve the gift, but of the benevolence of the giver (This is especially important as we consider the greatest gift ever given - the fact that God gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die in my place doesn’t speak of the fact that I deserved the gift, but it speaks of the fact that God is gracious and kind)

'Plan B' mentality is always self-serving.

But ultimately, the problem with plan B is that it is faithless

John Maxwell once wrote “Every vision dies when the cost gets too high.” He’s right! Just because you and I have good intentions to pursue plan A - that is, the thing we know God wants us to do - doesn’t mean we will. Remember the 10 spies in Numbers 13 and 14? They saw first hand what God had in store for them (they had the vision), but the cost was simply too high - so the vision died. I love Joshua and Caleb's reaction, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are able to overcome it."

The Bible is filled with examples of 'plan A' people - Daniel was one. When the law said he couldn’t worship as he was accustomed to doing, he said - “I’ve got my orders and I’m sticking to them.”

Essentially, God’s character is the basis for a plan 'A' mentality.
Remember 1 Cor. 1:9? He who called us is faithful.

God established a new covenant with us - not a new commitment with us, but a new covenant. You see, commitments shift in their intensity. Sometimes we can be more committed or less committed depending on circumstances. But covenants never flex - you are never less covenanted or more covenanted - you are either in covenant or you’re not!

As we seek to display the faithful character of God in our lives, we become people of resolve, of integrity, of loyalty. 'Plan A' type of people.

Where do you find yourself; a 'plan A' or 'plan B' type of person? If 'B', what are you going to do to try to change your mindset to be a 'plan A' person?

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