Expect the Criticism — Don’t Be Shocked by It: Why resistance is often proof you’ve finally started moving

There comes a moment in every pursuit — a quiet but crucial moment — when the wind changes. You share your dream. You take initiative. You step forward… and suddenly, the world reacts.

Some will applaud. Some will question. And some will criticize — loudly, silently, relentlessly. And if you’re not ready for it, that reaction can knock the air right out of you.

But hear me clearly: criticism is not always a sign that something is wrong.
Often, it is proof that you are moving. Because nothing stationary is ever attacked. The arrows only fly when you’re climbing.

So when you pursue your goals — don’t be shocked by criticism. Expect it.
Anticipate it the way a traveler anticipates wind on a mountain. Not as a personal failure… but as part of the terrain.

Marie Curie: A Reminder

Let me remind you of Marie Curie — one of the greatest scientific minds to ever live. The first woman to win a Nobel Prize… and the only person in history to win it in two different sciences: physics and chemistry.

You would think the world would celebrate her brilliance — but no. She was attacked. Discredited. Called immoral. The newspapers dragged her name through the mud. Her personal life was exploited just to undermine her professional genius.

It got so bad that Albert Einstein himself felt compelled to write her a letter, telling her not to engage with her haters. He said:

“If the rabble continues to occupy itself with you, then simply don’t read that hogwash, but rather leave it to the reptile for whom it has been fabricated.”

Even Marie Curie (a pioneer of science) had to face a storm of criticism. Not because she was wrong… but because she was extraordinary.
That’s what happens when you push boundaries: the world notices — and not everyone applauds.

Why Some People Criticize

Some people will criticize not because you’re doing something bad, but because you’re doing something they didn’t have the courage to do.

Your courage becomes a mirror — reflecting back their hesitation, their unrealized dreams, their abandoned potential. And when people don’t know how to deal with their own reflection… they criticize the mirror.

So when criticism comes, don’t panic – analyze it.

Criticism is data, not identity. It may contain something useful — but it doesn’t define your worth.
It’s reaction, not truth. People often respond from fear, insecurity, or limited knowledge — emotions aren’t facts.
It’s noise, not navigation. Not every voice deserves to steer your direction.

If you treat every opinion as guidance, you’ll drift. But if you use discernment, separating what shapes you from what shakes you, criticism can become a tool, not a threat.

Walk In Prepared

So walk in expecting resistance.
Expect to be misunderstood.
Expect discomfort.

Prepare your heart for it — so when it comes, you won’t crumble. You’ll simply nod… and keep going. Let people talk. Let them misunderstand. Let them judge from the sidelines.

You don’t need everyone to understand. You just need the strength to continue.

Because your dream is not validated by applause, it is validated by endurance. By resilience. By the quiet decision to continue…day after day…until what once sounded impossible becomes inevitable.

So Go On…

Pursue what calls you. Step into the arena. Let the winds blow. Let the critics speak.

And when they do? Don’t be shocked. Just smile — because it means you’re finally moving.

Cynthia A. Murungi

Hey there! Welcome to thehealseekers, a space dedicated to helping women explore metaphysics, psychology, and self-development as tools for clarity, purpose, and goal achievement. I hope you find inspiration here.