Thank You For Your Projection

 

I have a brilliant friend, a retired Episcopal Priest, who is one of the most insightful people I ever talk with. One day, when he was sharing his interpretations of the world in a way of found mesmerizing, I said, “Richard, you are such a brilliant man with such a kind heart.” He responded by saying, “Thank you for your projection.” I say, “HUH????”

He said, “I don’t take compliments seriously—nor do I take criticism seriously because I know it comes from the projection of other people. Karl Jung taught us that we project onto others our disowned parts of ourselves. In otherwords, what we like about others is what we like about ourselves. What we don’t like in others speaks highly of the work we must do on ourselves.”

So, be careful when you said negative things about others—it often reveals more about you than it does about the person.

Speak highly of others and assume the best in them. So when you project, you project the good.

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