Ava Brooks

So I was looking through some old project files the other day, and I stumbled on this email from our very first creative project together, and oh my word, Jordan, the feedback we got from that early demo. Do you remember? One of the reviewers literally wrote, and I quote, "The energy is okay, but they sound like they drank way too much coffee before hitting record." Way too much coffee!

Jordan Sterling

Oh, wow. I actually forgot about that, but wow, yeah, that hurts. It is funny now, but back then? Man, it felt like a total punch to the gut. It is amazing how one little comment like that can just colonize your mind and make you want to go hide in a cave.

Ava Brooks

It really does! It can trigger this immediate defensive reflex where a person may want to lash out or just completely shut down. And it turns out there is actual science behind why someone does that. There is this study from researchers looking at what they call trait interpersonal vulnerability. And basically, they found that when we receive criticism, our brain naturally interprets it as this existential threat to our identity. It is like our psychological self defense system kicks in, and instead of processing the feedback calmly, a person can build this massive, impenetrable wall instead of a, you know, a helpful filter.

Jordan Sterling

A wall instead of a filter. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Because when you build a wall, nothing gets through, right? You protect your ego, but you also block out any chance of actually growing or getting better. You just stagnate.

Ava Brooks

Exactly. And to really break down how we can avoid building those walls, it helps to look at the psychological anatomy of feedback itself. It usually falls into three distinct categories. You have destructive criticism, which is basically just designed to tear you down, no real value there. But then you have constructive criticism, which, according to the research, actually builds together by identifying a specific problem and offering real solutions. And then there is instructive criticism, which is more about adding on to your existing knowledge without passing any judgment on you as a person.

Jordan Sterling

Hmm. Instructive. So it is just, like, here are the facts, here is some new information you can use, no emotional baggage attached. It reminds me a lot of the track "Figures." Have you listened to that one lately? The production is so clean and structured, almost mathematical. It has this very steady, focused rhythm that feels completely objective.

Ava Brooks

Oh, I love that connection. Yes! Treating feedback like neutral figures, just direct, hard data points to analyze rather than some emotional attack on your character.

Jordan Sterling

Right! When someone speaks something about you to you, there are always two distinct parts. There is the content, and then there is the tone. If you can use that "Figures" mindset to separate the two, you can completely strip away the personal narrative of failure and just focus on the raw data. Like, okay, maybe their tone wasn't the best, but is there a number or a factual point in there that I can actually use to improve?

Ava Brooks

That is the ultimate test, isn't it? But it is so hard to find that balance. I mean, on one hand, if you listen to absolutely everyone, you end up in this state of complete paralysis from trying to please everyone. But on the other hand, if you listen to no one, you fall into intellectual arrogance and you just stop growing. How do you tell the difference between someone offering constructive or instructive criticism, who actually wants to help you grow and someone who is just, you know, throwing stones from the sidelines?

Jordan Sterling

Well, I think it comes down to resilience, but maybe not the way we usually think about it. It is like that song "Snap Back." The beat is so resilient and upbeat. It has this incredible momentum. And that is what emotional recovery is really about. Resilience isn't about never feeling the blow of criticism. It is about having that elastic mental strength to absorb the hit, process what is useful, and then snap back into your original, authentic shape instead of staying permanently bent out of shape by someone else's opinion.

Ava Brooks

Yes! Oh, that is beautiful. Snapping back into your true shape. So, how do we practically build that filter so we don't stay bent out of shape? Let us break down some concrete steps our listeners can use starting today.

Jordan Sterling

First up is what we can call the content tone divorce. Like we talked about with the study, constructive feedback significantly minimizes the psychological aftermath of failure, but only if we actually let the constructive part in. You have to consciously choose to ignore the emotional tone, or how it was delivered, and focus purely on the content. Ask yourself, what is the five percent sliver of actionable truth in this that can actually make me better?

Ava Brooks

I love that. The five percent sliver. It takes all the power away from their delivery. Second is the source audit. You have to categorize feedback based on where it is coming from. Are they in the arena with you, or are they just a spectator? Give the maximum weight to mentors and peers who have real skin in the game and genuinely want to see you succeed. If they are just an anonymous voice from the cheap seats, you can politely dismiss it and move on.

Jordan Sterling

And third, the twenty four hour cool off. When you get hit with unexpected feedback, implement a strict pause. Do not reply, do not make any changes, do not defend yourself. Just wait a full twenty four hours. Let that initial chemical wave of defensiveness and adrenaline clear out of your system, and then look at the facts with a cool head.

Ava Brooks

That is such a game changer. That pause is everything.

Jordan Sterling

Absolutely...

Jordan Sterling

Again, thanks for spending this time with us on the PTT Music Podcast. We hope today's conversation left you inspired, encouraged, and ready to carry that energy with you wherever life takes you. I'm Jordan Sterling...

Ava Brooks

And I'm Ava Brooks. We'll see you next time for another conversation that celebrates creativity, purpose, and the power of music.

Jordan Sterling

If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to continue the journey with us. Visit PTTMusic.com to explore our latest music, official videos, exclusive merchandise, artist updates, and much more. You can also stream PTT Music on your favorite music platforms. And be sure to subscribe to our the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today... Until next time, keep moving forward.

Ava Brooks

And let the PTT Music continue to move you closer to who you truly are.