Do you notice a difference between being defensive and defending yourself? It all depends on your energy, the story your telling, and whether you’re taking responsibility for your part in the situation. Many people think being defensive is “in your face,” but you might be surprised at how defensiveness can show up in a more subtle manner.
When you find that you’re defensive, dig down to the root of your guilty feelings and get clean and clear. When you get clean and clear you’re taking responsibility for yourself and cleaning up any messes you might have left in your wake … apologizing, making amends, or forgiving. No need to create more drama, excuses, or stories. Just take care of your business and move on!
July 10, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
I guess I never realized that being defensive didn’t mean having to get confrontational. A self retrospective every now and then lets us understand why we are feeling the way we do so we can move on with our lives.