Appear confident and happy with the way you do things, even if you are not. Don't express doubts to people who don't agree with you. A positive non-threatening reply works best. In rising above criticism, making light of things often works. Sometimes it's best to ignore the criticism and consider the source.
People often feel defensive and attack when someone is doing things differently.
If you know you will be in a situation where your actions will be criticized, I would suggest to prepare ahead of time by practicing some of these responses. Ad lib as needed. I felt much more confident about saying these things after practicing them. When you are in the situation, pause a moment and take a deep, relaxing breath before answering. This Web page is maintained by the La Leche League International Public Relations Department .