*By Dr. Devan
Criticism is as old as human existence. From the moment one begins to rise, to create, to stand apart, there will always be voices that try to pull one down. The great souls who transformed the world—Socrates, Christ, Gandhi, Buddha, Einstein, or even the entrepreneurs and innovators of today—were all met with resistance, ridicule, and hostility. Yet, they thrived while many of their critics faded into obscurity. Why? Because the negative energy of critics and enemies, like a boomerang, inevitably destroys themselves rather than the target they seek to wound.
This phenomenon is both spiritual and psychological. It draws from ancient wisdom, modern neuroscience, and the very laws of nature. Energy is never wasted; it flows, it transforms, and it returns. Negative energy, when projected outward, corrodes first the vessel that carries it. Hatred, envy, jealousy, and malice are like poisons—before they ever touch their intended victim, they seep into the bloodstream of the one who harbors them.
The Psychology of NegativityLet us consider what happens within the mind of a critic who spews venom. When a person focuses on envy or resentment, their entire mental framework contracts. Studies in neuroscience have shown that negative emotions increase the secretion of cortisol and adrenaline, hormones associated with stress and inflammation. A person who constantly indulges in negativity lives in a perpetual state of agitation. Their sleep, digestion, immunity, and overall health begin to erode.
The one who is criticized, on the other hand, can remain untouched—if they choose not to internalize the negativity. In fact, criticism often acts as an affirmation that one is doing something significant. The greater your light, the greater the shadows it casts. To attract critics is often to prove relevance. Thus, paradoxically, the critic validates the one they despise, while destroying their own peace in the process.
The Law of Energy and ReturnEvery tradition across the world has articulated some version of the law of return. In Hinduism, it is karma. In Christianity, it is “as you sow, so shall you reap.” In Buddhism, it is the law of cause and effect. In physics, energy is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form. When negative energy is directed at someone, it must find a place to settle. If the recipient does not absorb it, it rebounds back to its source.
Imagine a person standing with a burning coal, intending to throw it at another. Before they can release it, their own hands are already burning. This is the nature of malice. The fire harms the holder before it reaches anyone else.
Critics as Unwitting Servants of GrowthIronically, critics often serve a purpose without knowing it. They test the strength of our resolve. They expose our weak points, helping us grow sharper. They force us to clarify our vision, refine our methods, and strengthen our character. A person without critics has either not achieved enough, or is hiding too safely within the ordinary.
Great leaders often thanked their enemies for sharpening them. Abraham Lincoln said, “I do not like that man. I must get to know him better.” His wisdom was that even opposition could be a teacher. Gandhi turned the hostility of the British Empire into the moral force of non-violence. Martin Luther King Jr. transformed racial hatred into the power of a civil rights movement.
Thus, the critic believes he is weakening his opponent, but in truth, he often strengthens him. The negative energy, unable to destroy the target, rebounds and destroys the sender, while leaving behind the gift of resilience in the one criticized.
The Self-Destruction of EnemiesLet us look at the fate of those who lived in hatred. History is full of examples. Dictators consumed by paranoia ended in isolation, surrounded by fear. Jealous rivals in politics or business often burned themselves out with schemes, while the ones they opposed went on to flourish. The energy of enmity corrodes the one who harbors it—physically through stress, socially through broken relationships, and spiritually through loss of peace.
On the other hand, those who endured criticism with equanimity often lived longer, healthier, and more impactful lives. Negativity did not touch them, because they refused to drink the poison offered to them.
The Spiritual Armor of DetachmentThe key lies not in eliminating critics—for that is impossible—but in cultivating detachment. To see criticism not as a wound but as noise. To recognize that the negative energy belongs not to you, but to the critic. It is their burden, not yours.
This requires inner strength, cultivated through meditation, self-awareness, and perspective. One who knows their path does not waver when others shout from the roadside. The eagle does not concern itself with the cawing of crows.
When you understand this truth, criticism becomes irrelevant. Enmity loses its sting. The negative energy directed at you has nowhere to lodge—it circles back to where it came from, consuming the sender.
Transforming Enemy Energy into FuelThe highest response, however, is not just detachment but transformation. Instead of merely ignoring critics, one can transmute their energy into fuel. Hatred can become your reminder to love deeper. Opposition can sharpen your clarity. Betrayal can teach you loyalty. The negativity of others, when filtered through your consciousness, can be converted into wisdom, compassion, and inner power.
This is the secret of spiritual alchemy. The critic is trapped in self-destruction, but you rise because you learned to turn their poison into medicine.
Conclusion: The Boomerang of NegativityThe negative energy of your critics and enemies does not belong to you. It is their creation, their burden, and ultimately their undoing. By refusing to absorb it, you protect your peace. By transforming it, you increase your strength.
The critic believes he has struck at you, but in truth he has struck at himself. He may not realize it immediately, but time reveals the pattern: resentment corrodes, hatred burns, envy blinds. The one who emits negativity is the first to be consumed by it.
So walk forward with calm confidence. Let the critics bark, let the enemies plot. Their negativity will not touch you. It will circle back to them, destroying their peace, their health, and their destiny. Meanwhile, your path shines clearer, your spirit grows stronger, and your life becomes the ultimate testimony—that light always outlasts darkness.
Remember this eternal truth: the negative energy of your critics and enemies is never your burden—it is their punishment.
*Dr Devan is a Mangaluru-based ENT specialist and author
Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti