Are you defensive?
I’ve been thinking a lot about “defensiveness” lately. My pondering was first sparked by a conversation with a friend a few months ago. This conversation got me to wondering just what defensiveness is all about. So, I’ve become a “watcher” of sorts. Life gives me lots of opportunities to see “defensiveness” in action ~ both in my own life and in the lives of others. Here are some of the things I’ve observed:
When I’m defensive it usually masks the fear I feel, fear that maybe I’m wrong, fear that I’m not good enough, sometimes even fear that I’m not accepted.
Sometimes I use my defensiveness as a means to avoid taking a look at myself and instead blame the other person because he or she doesn’t see things like me.
I have even noticed my defensiveness is sometimes just a habit. It seems I often assume others think I’m way off base so I lead with defensiveness as a protection.
Recently I sat in a meeting where there was much discussion about how we can ensure our boys are prepared to serve missions. I felt myself becoming defensive. But I chose not to stay there. I let go of the fear, let go of my own preconceived judgments of others, and instead added my own thoughts and perspectives from a place of love. What a difference it made!
How does defensiveness make you act? It might be interesting to take a step back and see.
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