Projecting Your Positive Self

Have you ever heard someone tell you something which you knew was them revealing themselves?  Have you ever heard or noticed something in someone you disliked?  Did you later realize what you didn't like was actually seeing yourself in them?  Perhaps you realized that you say and do the very same thing you disliked hearing or seeing in them.   This is called projection.

Psychological Projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by denying their existence in themselves, while attributing them to others.  For example, a person who is rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude.  According to some research, the projection of one's negative qualities onto others is a common process in everyday life. 

- Sigmund Freud, Tavris Wade 

Unfortunately, we all project our thoughts, moods and character onto others from time to time.  People leaving mind-bending religious institutions may project their distaste for organized religion when others mention God or a faith group; ridicule sometimes being the response.  The person who just left an unhealthy relationship may project their previous partner’s failures onto someone new or may perceive a negative outlook on relationships in general.  

In social media, very often messages are read from a different point of view than how the message is written.  The reception of any message depends on the reader’s / receiver’s perception, worldview and belief system.  Misinterpretations happen all the time and can be quite humorous or quite devastating in some instances.

One possible remedy to avoid the pitfall of psychological projection could be focusing on projecting love, not hate; positive and hopeful words, not negative or hopeless themes onto others; forwarding blessings, not curses.  One more reality to accept is that all people are fallible.  The chronic projector needs help viewing others through grace.