Giving feedback without sharing your private life
Someone asks what you thought, and you are unsure how much to say.
Feedback about a resource and a story about your wellbeing are two different things. You can say whether a guide was clear, short or hard to follow without saying how you feel inside.
If you are asking for feedback, ask only about the resource. Make it easy for people to say “no comment” on anything personal.
What counts as feedback on a resource?
It is anything about the thing itself: the length, the pace of the voice, the size of the print, the language, the layout, whether a link worked.
These comments help the next person. They do not need your health, your family or your work stress.
What counts as personal disclosure?
It is any detail about you: how you slept, whether you felt anxious, what is happening at home, a diagnosis or a loss.
You may share these with someone you trust. They should not be a price of giving feedback.
Why keep them apart?
When the two mix, people hold back honest feedback to avoid exposing themselves. Or they overshare, then regret it when the chat goes into a larger group.
Keeping them apart protects the reader and makes the feedback more useful. It also keeps a sharing chat from turning into care it was never meant to give.
Try this: two columns
Use this when you are asked “so how was it?”
- Take a scrap of paper or open a note.
- In one column write what you noticed about the resource.
- In the other write anything personal you might feel like saying.
- Share the first column. Decide about the second later, or with someone you trust, or not at all.
Wording you can borrow
For giving feedback: “The voice was easy to follow, but I would prefer a shorter version.”
For declining a personal question: “I would like to keep that private, but thank you for checking in.”
For asking: “Was the guide clear, and was the length right? You do not need to share anything personal.”
How can organisers collect feedback kindly?
Keep the form short and about the resource. Avoid questions like “how did it make you feel?” unless people can skip them.
Let people answer without a name. Say who reads the answers and how long they are kept, using only what is true for your group, and see collecting feedback on resource usability for a plain form.
When feedback turns personal
Sometimes a person writes more than you asked for. Thank them, and do not forward it. If they seem to be struggling, point them softly to when to get more support.
A feedback chat is not a counselling session, and you do not have to carry it alone.
Where to go next
Following up without repeated nudging is covered in following up on a shared resource gently. If you run a group, read how to explain voluntary participation.
You will find the full set on the sharing calm with family, friends and groups page. If you want to try the thing you are giving feedback on, Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is an optional place to start.
Common questions
Do I have to explain why I did not like it?
No. You can say what worked and what did not about the resource itself, such as length, voice or layout. You never owe anyone a personal reason. A short, kind answer is complete.
What if someone asks about my mood after I try a resource?
You can say you would rather keep that private. A simple line works: I would like to keep that to myself, thanks for asking. People who care will accept it.
How should an organiser ask for feedback?
Ask about the resource only: was it easy to find, clear and the right length. Say that readers need not share anything about their health or family, and give a way to answer without a name.
What if someone shares something heavy in a feedback chat?
Listen kindly, thank them and do not try to fix it. Gently suggest a doctor, counsellor or the support page. Do not repeat what they said to others.
Read next
If you are collecting feedback on a calming resource, trying Sadhguru's free 7-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app yourself first helps you ask better questions.