Since you are little, you begin to adopt certain types of attitudes that at the moment may seem harmless, but in the long run they become habits that can damage your personal relationships. You make them a part of you and it seems almost unbelievable to withdraw from those behaviors. However, if something is harmful to you and those around you, you have to do something about it.
«What shocks you checks you» is one of the phrases that you have surely heard a lot. And it is, to some degree, very true. The outside world is a reflection of your mind, so before judging, criticizing or giving your opinion about the lives of others, you have to think very carefully about how you are and if your opinion is really objective or just a reflection of what what do you think.
What is psychological projection about?
Psychological projection is a defense mechanism in which you attribute to other feelings, thoughts or impulses of your own that you deny yourself. It is activated in situations of emotional conflict or when you feel physically or mentally attacked. The toxic side of projection is based on thinking that others have defects, but never you. Freud said that it is used as a way to avoid repressed emotions.
Some examples of projection are the following:
neurotic: In this type of projection, people may attribute feelings, motives, or attitudes that they find unacceptable in themselves to another person.
complementary: Occurs when individuals assume that others feel the same way they do. For example, a person with a certain political persuasion might assume that his friends and family share those beliefs.
Avoid falling into psychological projection with these tips
stop saying everything is fine. When you recognize your emotions, good or bad, and accept them, you will stop projecting yourself onto others. Notice how many times you say “I’m fine” to yourself or to others.
meditate. Mindfulness has proven so effective in helping people get more in touch with their way of thinking and feeling that it has taken the psychological community by storm in recent years.
A modern take on ancient Eastern practices is learning to harness the power of the present moment, where your true feelings and thoughts reside.
spend more time with yourself. In this way you can get to know yourself much more and be in touch with your emotions. It is not about spending time alone in front of the television, but about spending quality moments where you can learn more about yourself. For example, reading self-help books, studying, listening to music, or doing some manual activity.
question your thoughts. Projection is the mind’s way of tricking you into not feeling what you need to feel. And what if you stop believing that all your thoughts are the truth of the Gospel and start to recognize that most of your thoughts are a mixture of assumptions, old beliefs and doubts?