The Six Swans
I find myself deeply touched by a recent Facebook post from my dear friend and colleague Marnie Breckenridge, who graciously spoke of our collaborations with warmth and generosity. I admit, receiving praise publicly often feels more complicated for me than criticism.
A princess's six brothers are turned into swans by their stepmother's curse. To break the spell, she must remain silent for six years and sew six shirts made from nettles. She endures hardship and is nearly executed for witchcraft but finishes the shirts just in time. Her silence is vindicated, her brothers are restored, and the stepmother is punished—by a sentence she herself proposed, not knowing she would be judged by it.
Praise, especially heartfelt and sincere, requires a different kind of bravery from the receiver: the courage to internalize and trust its truthfulness. Criticism aligns with a voice I know well—one that carries self-doubt, inner guilt, and self-inflicted wounds. Ah, my old friends!
Criticism, oddly enough, validates those internal struggles and gives me something tangible to fight against. It reinforces the belief that there's always more work to be done, more imperfections to overcome.
Reflecting on Grimm's "The Six Swans," I recognize the danger of declaring one's own punishment through relentless self-criticism. I took a strange liking to fairy tales and fables as a kid, just as much as biblical parables. While there are other lessons in the tale, the one that stuck with me is to not self-punish. What we perceive as terrible about ourselves, can sometimes be a trait others value deeply.
Thank you, Marnie. Thank you, friends. Your kindness invites me to view myself more gently, more wholly. Perhaps true strength involves learning not only when to embrace praise but also when to cease punishing oneself.
#TheSixSwans #GrimmWisdom #AcceptingPraise #SelfReflection #OperaticLife