Projection
We all have a shadow self. The shadow gets developed in our childhood from our ego while adapting to social norms. As we develop we learn to change, adapt and grow our behavior in a way that is acceptable in society. Along the way we also bury authentic parts of ourselves, our shadow side.
Let's start where we left off last week. Our last Shadow journaling we reflected on your beginnings. How was that experience for you? Sit with that for a moment.
The way we see the world is profoundly influenced by our past experiences. We bring these experiences to bear on the present moment almost without noticing. In a process that is referred to as "projection". A classic projection test is an unfinished sentence. As we complete the sentence it summons up bits of our assumptions and childhood legacies we might otherwise never have accessed. Don't give much thought when completing the sentences, so as to allow the unconscious to be surprised and say what is on its mind.
What I really deserve is.....
Deep down, I suppose I'm really.....
Men are generally...
Women almost always...
What I really want to say to other people is...
When someone disappoints me, I...
If someone else could know me properly, they'd...
We can do this with pictures also.
We bring so much intimate history and personality into our answers and interpretations. We don't need to stop projecting (we can't anyway). Rather it can help you to get more aware of your tendencies to interpret the world in very particular ways because of your distinctive history.
For today, take time to see how you may project your history or your thoughts and feelings onto another person. Pause for a moment, take a breath and give yourself the opportunity to journal what you noticed about yourself today.