Did you ever notice how some people are quick to judge and find fault in someone else when they themselves exhibit the exact same (or worse) behavior or attribute that they criticize?
Projection is one of several defense mechanisms that individuals deploy to protect themselves from traits or desires that they find too difficult to acknowledge in the mirror, or to avoid admitting mistakes.
It is psychologically easier to point the finger outward, but the keys to mental health and emotional well-being are rooted in self-discovery.
As coaches, we often use open-ended questions to help facilitate this process with clients, such as:
- What makes you uncomfortable and why?
- What are you most grateful for?
- Who do you want to be?
- What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
The journey inward can be scary, difficult and confusing, which is why so many people avoid doing it, sometimes for their entire lives.
But it is a journey worth taking, since on the other side lies happiness and inner peace, and in some cases, total transformation.
“The bravest journey is the journey inward.” – Shannon Algeo
