When launching your business online or starting a blog, you will expose yourself to a certain degree online. You are going to share your life through Instagram stories, and occasionally you make a fool out of yourself on a Tik-Tok video. I mean, who hasn't? Or Am I the only one who uploads dance videos when in reality, I can't dance? Or you are showing off your accomplishments in an in-feed Instagram post.

Of course, you have to be vulnerable and share your own story with your online audience to connect and build relationships. It is all about storytelling and empowering each other.

But creating content online also opens the door for unsolicited advice and hater comments. We all have been there. We've all gotten some nasty comments under our reels, unconstructive criticism via direct message, or some troll is trying to make us feel bad about ourselves because we achieved something.

It is always easier to hide behind a keyboard, type up a few words and click send rather than call you or imagine speaking face-to-face with you to tell you the truth.

I have pretty thick skin, maybe because I worked as a technician during my time in college, starting at 18 years old. Working at soccer games and TV studios is, after all, a male-dominated environment. Often I wasn't taken seriously or been overlooked. And I admit I shed a tear here and there, but these experiences made me stronger.

Or maybe I have thick skin because I was bullied at school because my classmates thought I did not fit it because I wore different clothes. And here's a fact about German schools. If you are new to my podcast, I grew up in Germany and moved to the US after graduating from college. If you are new to my channel, I grew up in Germany and moved to the US after graduating from college. Going to school in Germany is very different compared to the US.

During Elementary School or for example 5th to12th grade, you will have the same classmates and the same teachers until you graduate from school. Now, that's pretty awful if you don't belong to the cool kids club. I did not beling to that club. So do you have a similar experience? I would love to know your story.

Also, my job history (I'm currently overseeing 100 plus employees) accounted for personal growth as well. Working in a leadership position is not always sunshine and rainbows, but I found a system that works for me and allowed me to reach a point in my life where I laugh about hater comments with my husband and only take advice and criticism that is coming from a good place.

But maybe it is different for you. Maybe you haven't found a system that works for you or are newly exposed to online negativity.

So I want to show you a system that can help you deal better with online trolls or reduce the feeling of being hurt.

Step number one say: "Fuck 'em" out loud. That always helps me before moving on to step number two.

Step number two "the circle". Imagine a small circle. Put your thumb and index finger together.

Do you see the circle? That is your feedback circle. What is the feedback circle? A feedback circle will help you avoid getting hurt by unconstructive criticism and online BS. Let's go back and look at your circle you created with your index finger and your thumb as you can see, you have limited space available in this circle. What you want to do next is, start filling your circle with names of people you are willing to accept criticism and feedback from.

Keep in mind your circle space is limited and won't fit a lot of names. Don't feel bad about leaving people out of your circle. If you don't want to accept feedback from your mom, friends, or sibling, that's okay, and you shouldn't feel bad about it. It doesn't mean that you don't value their opinion. It simply means you won't get hurt or bothered by their feedback because they are not in your circle, whereas you would accept feedback, criticism, and advice from everyone within your circle.

If someone in your circle provides input, criticism, or advice, you will accept it and consider it. This is an important aspect of the circle and the process, so be sure to only include people in your circle that you really would listen to and accept feedback, even if it is negative.

Now, if some online troll is writing total nonsense under your post or some hater decides to put you down, remember that these people are not in your circle, so don't care about their opinion. If you keep reminding yourself that these people are not in your circle, you will deal better with negativity.

It helped me to deal with unwanted advice and online negativity. In the beginning, it will take some time to get used to this system, but the more you use it and integrate it into your daily life, the easier it will become to ignore negativity but also to accept criticism and grow as a person.

I am going to share some comments I received under my posts and I hope, just like me, you can laugh about them as well.

"This is the most stupid F*** video i've seen" - but at least this troll saw my video from beginning to end.

"I am sorry that you live in a crap hole" - uhm sure if Los Angeles is a crap hole in your opinion. I guess.
"Like no one care" - really? I guess the other 699K people who saw the video did care.
"She just wants attention" - nah I just want to help.
And my favorite comment of all times, "What's your favorite iron song bit**" In the video, I was wearing an iron maiden shirt and believe it or now I actually attended a concert with my dad years ago. So, jokes on you!

I hope I was able to bring a smile to your face with these comments and show you a system that you can use to deal with online hate and criticism.

And If you want to position yourself as an expert in your niche and turn passion into profit with content marketing, be sure to check out The Social Wisdom Academy, learn more about my online course. Until next time Goodbye or how we say in Germany Auf Wiedersehen!