Defensiveness
“The only way to win at global thermo –nuclear war, is not to play the game.” ~Wargames
Defensiveness is one of the most destructive characteristics we can have. It’s a very common trait, and was invented by people that were truly being attacked, usually as a child, when they couldn’t defend themselves. They decided that as soon as they could, they wouldn’t let others attack them. They would defend themselves.
As they say in sports, the best defense is a good offense.
So we became great at attacking others, as our defense. We justify our attack as a preventative strike, just like the military. So we began to anticipate patterns in people to know if and when we had to strike. Also like the military we sometimes used “shock and awe.” That would literally be shocking and awful to others. We told ourselves they deserved it for what they did in the past or for what we “knew” they were about to do to us now.
In the military they have a term called measured response. That means that they retaliate with a reasonable amount of retribution, usually slightly more that what they got, so as to send a message that you better not do that again, or you will get worse that you gave.
With defensiveness there usually is not a “measured response.” There is usually a disproportional response, and sometimes even when they actually weren’t attacked.
Most people that are defensive are in denial. They feel they are “normal.” I’m speaking from experience here. I used to be very defensive. I know how they think. They have to justify their behavior. The easiest way to justify your bad behavior is to deny that you behave badly. “What’s to defend? I’m just acting normally. I am not defensive. Anyone would respond this way. I don’t have a problem!”
I am still a little defensive, but I have learned to offer a measured response. This is something that is a process.
Those people that are in denial will find it interesting that other people act this way. So I have a little quiz for you:
1. Have you often felt attacked by others?
2. Were you criticized a lot as a child?
3. Do people say you are argumentative?
4. Do you find that there are a number of defensive people around you?
5. Do you often feel don’t understand why you responded the way you did?
6. Do others feel like they have to be on guard around you?
7. Do you get into lots of arguments?
8. Have you lost relationships because they could take it anymore?
9. Do you consider yourself a nice person, but others have considered you to be “prickly?”
10. Do you have very few friends or close family members?
If you answered yes to more than 3 of these questions, chances are you are a little defensive.
If you answered yes to more than 5 of these, you are defensive.
If you answered yes to more than 7 of these questions, you are very defensive.
If you answered yes to all of these, I will hand you over my title as the most defensive person!
If you answered no to all of these, but you know one of more of these kind of people, you are either in denial, or you like abuse.
I have to say that there is no judgment about this. There is no right or wrong about being defensive. In fact it was conceived to protect the person that was being criticized or abused. The problem arises when a disproportionate response is given to criticism or feedback.
If you are constantly trying to defend yourself, how can you hear any real and deserved criticism, and therefore improve yourself and your relationships? So I want you to ask yourself, “Are you ready to take an honest look at yourself and your behavior, and change it if necessary?”
#1 Best-selling Author, International Motivational Speaker, Radio Host and Life Coach, John Seeley has been called Dr. Phil with Soul, He is a much sought after speaker, with a following in 43 countries around the world. www.getunstuck.com
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