According to the Urban Dictionary (www.urbandictionary.com), projection is “a way to blame others for your own negative thoughts by repressing them and then attributing them to someone else.”
Hm…so, I have a hard time getting to work on time. I am usually there on time, which really means late because I’m not ready to be productive at the ‘on time’ time. Today one of my students was waiting at my classroom door for me while I was waiting for her in the front office. After 5 minutes of talking to one of the secretaries, another teacher came in and said she thought she saw my student in the hallway waiting for me. I say, “Oh, okay, great. She usually meets me here.” Then I hear a voice from behind a computer screen say that the student went down to my room.
Hm….immediate projection! I think, ‘Why did that happen? I have always met her right here each morning. Why was the student allowed to be buzzed out of the office when no other students are allowed in the building at this time of day? Was that done on purpose because I am always late? A little passive-aggressive, I’d say!’
I huff and puff in my head as I walk down the hallway, soon realizing that I am making up an entire scenario inside my head as I project my negative feelings onto the voice behind the computer screen. I am late, that is what I am mad about. I have to get here earlier. That’s all there is to it. That’s an easy fix and something that will make me much happier. ME – making ME – much happier. Not anyone else, not anything else. I am projection.
Make YOURSELF happy today!