Am I an individual? P.2 (Psychological projection)

A closer look at: Psychological Projection

“We project our own unpleasant feelings onto someone else and blame
them for having thoughts that we really have.”

Put simply, this is somebody telling you, for example

“You’ll never go far”

Or

“That’s a really competitive field. Do you really want to risk it?”

Or

“Are you really going to wear that dress?”

When somebody restricts you or tells you that you can’t do
something, or has such negative opinions of your chances, it is
usually a reflection of them onto you, and should not be taken
as fact. The idea was studied in depth by Sigmund Freud and is a
“defence mechanism in which the individual attributes to other
people impulses and traits that he himself has but cannot accept.
It is especially likely to occur when the person lacks insight into
his own impulses and traits.”

That’s an important point to take note of:

“Especially likely to occur when the person lacks insight into his own
impulses and traits.”

Again it’s a case of, how can anybody, other than yourself, know
what you’re capable of, especially when they probably lack insight
into themselves and their own ability? When somebody dismisses
your chances, don’t take it personally. Think about what they’ve
said with the knowledge that you are the ultimate judge on what
you can and will do. Again, as long as you are being honest with
yourself and are willing to put the work in, I’d trust your own
instincts over critics. Hey, critics and experts have always made
mistakes. As long as you know that and understand that people
are very good at projecting their own fears and failures on to you.
As well as particularly, their own lack of ambition, you’re on track!

Anthony

www.anthony-king.com
www.anthonykingblog.com