Promoting Change

It is paradoxical but attitudes like criticism or judgment do not promote long-term change and growth in me while love and support do.  An atmosphere of love tells me that I am perfect and sufficient the way I am, but also promotes my growth and change.  Within that atmosphere I actually want to change and become a better person, become all I can be.  In the past, I have been criticized and judged to be very flawed, with the result that I felt negative about myself.  The criticism did not cause me to grow or change, which was its purpose.