Projection

Let me preface this by emphasizing that, I don't consider myself a good writer. I blog for myself. If you read, well, I'm glad to have the company.

I have a funny friend, she excels in two things, honesty and the inability to say "no". She's aware of her handicap, but this isn't why we're delving into "projection". I addressed the fact that she is also honest, brutally, to a fault. If you need to hear it, chances are, she'll tell you. I often find myself saying "ouch", when I hang up the phone. You don't call her to have your wounds licked, you call her for the "come to Jesus talk".

Occasionally when I call for my talk, I come away feeling as though I did it right and she's patting me on the back for a job well done. I had one of the rare moments with her recently. It was a little more profound than I expected. I've heard the advice before, I've listen to the "medical descriptions" of it, but this time...When a person has uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, they may project these onto other people, assigning the thoughts or feelings that they need to repress to a convenient alternative target.

Projection may also happen to obliterate attributes of other people with which we are uncomfortable. We assume that they are like us, and in doing so we allow ourselves to ignore those attributes they have with which we are uncomfortable.

She told me to get over it and move on. Insincere attempts at engagement are unbecoming. She's right, taking the projected feelings of another personally, complete waste of time. I think I'll utilize that energy elsewhere, bitter doesn't taste good anyway.