Podcast Summary: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Episode Title: How I Handle Haters
Host: Father Mike Schmitz
Release Date: May 8, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "How I Handle Haters," Father Mike Schmitz delves into the challenging topic of dealing with criticism and negative feedback. Through personal anecdotes and spiritual insights, he offers a Christian perspective on navigating hurtful comments and accusations.

Understanding the Nature of Criticism

Father Mike begins by addressing the universal experience of facing criticism, especially when it targets one's weaknesses or flaws.

"How do we, as Christians, how are we called to handle criticism, especially when it actually hurts?" [00:29]

He emphasizes the importance of discerning the truth behind the criticism. Not all negative feedback is entirely false or entirely true; often, it contains a mix of both.

"A lot of times what happens is if someone says something..., there's part of it that is true." [01:15]

Assessing the Truthfulness of Criticism

The first step, according to Father Mike, is to evaluate the validity of the criticism.

"Is this true? That's too broad of a question. I have to narrow it to ask the question, what part of this is true?" [02:10]

He uses the analogy of a pin to describe entirely false criticisms—painful momentarily but quickly fading. In contrast, criticisms containing partial truths act like a hook with a barb, leaving a lingering impact.

"A lot of times with criticism, there's a little bit of truth there. And that little bit of truth is like the barb at the end of a hook." [03:05]

Embracing the Truth and Letting Go of the False

Father Mike shares a personal example where someone accused him of selfishness for not meeting with them. He dissected the criticism to identify the truthful aspect: his inability to meet was not out of selfishness but circumstance.

"So what I need to do is ask that question, is this true? And not just is this all true, but what part of this is true?" [04:20]

He encourages listeners to acknowledge and embrace the truthful components of criticism while discarding the false parts to avoid unnecessary self-condemnation.

"The part that's true, we embrace and do something about. The part that's false we dismiss." [10:45]

Personal Reflection and Spiritual Insight

Father Mike reflects on the duality of human nature—acknowledging imperfections while recognizing the need for divine mercy.

"Just because I'm not guilty of the thing they're criticizing or the thing they're accusing doesn't mean I'm innocent... I need mercy." [08:30]

This introspection leads him to the importance of relying on Jesus for forgiveness and growth.

Approaches to Handling Criticism

He outlines three primary responses to criticism:

1. Denial: Rejecting the false parts of the criticism.
2. Acceptance: Embracing and addressing the truthful aspects.
3. Gratitude: Being thankful for the opportunity to grow, regardless of the criticism's validity.

"We can deny, and we do need to deny the part that's false. We can accept the part that's true. We can also be grateful." [12:15]

Gratitude as a Powerful Response

Father Mike highlights the transformative power of gratitude, whether the criticism is accurate or not.

"There's something so powerful about being able to simply be grateful for criticism." [13:00]

Gratitude helps in maintaining peace of mind and recognizing that God's opinion holds more weight than that of others.

"It's painful, but I'm grateful for it because it helps me know that it's God's opinion of me that matters more than anyone's." [14:25]

Conclusion

Wrapping up the discussion, Father Mike reinforces the importance of analyzing criticism through the lens of truth and gratitude. By doing so, individuals can grow in humility and deepen their relationship with God.

"God, thank you for helping me grow in humility, and thank you for helping me grow by calling me to repentance and to deeper union with you." [16:50]

He concludes with an uplifting reminder of the joy of being alive and the blessing of waking up each day.

"You got to wake up today. Like, that's really great news. You got to wake up today. I got to wake up today. That's pretty cool." [17:30]

Key Takeaways

• Discernment is Crucial: Not all criticism is wholly accurate or unfair. Learning to identify the truthful components can lead to personal growth.

• Embrace the Truth, Release the False: Accept meaningful feedback while letting go of unfounded accusations to maintain emotional and spiritual well-being.

• Cultivate Gratitude: Viewing criticism as an opportunity for humility and improvement aligns with Christian teachings and fosters resilience.

• Seek Divine Guidance: Relying on faith and God's perspective provides strength and clarity in handling negative feedback.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone grappling with criticism, providing a framework rooted in faith for turning challenges into opportunities for growth.