The very idea of criticism gets a bad rap. In common parlance, the word carries a negative connotation. Most of us think criticism points out what is wrong with something or why something “isn’t right.” The concept of “constructive criticism” seems like a lofty goal. Most people think criticism=BAD. But this is not the case. Criticism is the act of evaluating the merits and demerits of something and then making a judgment. Literary or artistic criticism, for example, is not about finding fault but about explaining and analyzing a given work. Criticism can be positive and, when delivered as such, can be a powerful tool in changing your behavior and perceptions or those of the people around you….