PATHWAY TO JOY AND HEALING

Sigmund Freud considered that in projection thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings that cannot be accepted as one’s own are dealt with by being placed in the outside world and attributed to someone else. What the ego repudiates is split off and placed in another. Freud would later come to believe that projection did not take place arbitrarily, but rather seized on and exaggerated an element that already existed on a small scale in the other person. This is Wikepedia’s definition of psychological projection.

For this reason, much of what we see in the world may not be reality, but the projection of our thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings that cannot be accepted as our own.  This is placed in the outside world onto others, although it may exist on a small scale in the other person.  The most common projection is fear.  I have come to realize that fear of being hurt if we have been abused or traumatized may cause us to project this fear onto others around us.  We perceive other’s actions to intend to cause us injury and hurt.

I am trying to unravel the truth and reality in my life now to find out how much of my experiences are caused by my projections and how much of this is real. As I go through my day, I observe the events of my day without judgment or commentary.  Is this truly happening or have I projected my past abuse and trauma onto the current day event?  I hope to find some answers as I continue to explore my truth and reality. (Copyright 2015 Awakening Journey with All Rights Reserved)