All of us have something that makes us feel defensive. Whether a person, situation, or issue we deem a setback, it’s very easy to put up a guard. There are times when I need to check my own attitude because of how quick I jump to conclusions for little or no reason. Have you ever been around someone who goes from zero to 60 over the simplest things? If only chill pills came in the form of chewing gum.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s never good to be on the defensive all the time. It simply doesn’t help when it comes to productivity or being a good team player. I can recall situations in the past where a co-worker made it next to impossible to work together. Here I am focusing on deadlines while he nit picks everything little thing because he assumes I don’t value his opinion.
One of the biggest issues I constantly have to deal with is the need to feel that I’m right. I’ll admit I don’t know everything, but can sometimes take certain criticism to heart if I feel misunderstood, or even undervalued. Because of this, I sometimes go into situations expecting a certain amount of backlash and resistance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to have a plan B in the event your original idea doesn’t work. That doesn’t mean pessimism is the way.
Trust is an important factor when it comes to life and our careers. Without it, you never really make the connections necessary to see the success you want or experience true happiness.
Stop resisting the inevitable.
Here are some pointers that will help you lower you guard.
Let go of your fear of failure. You’re really going to miss out on life if you never take a chance. No one has all the answers or knows all the details when it comes to how their story plays out. Let go of your fear of failure and the need to be in control. Who knows the opportunities that are coming your way and what you’ll miss if you close yourself to them.
You can’t control rejection. God bless you if you ever find a way to dodge rejection. It’s a hard pill to swallow but one that comes with the game of life. A big reason why folks are unable to lower their guard is because they can’t deal with the idea of being rejected. Just because you hear “no” doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It wasn’t the right idea or move for the time being. Believe it or not, rejection can actually be a good thing as it forces you to go back to the drawing board, analyze your ideas and try again.
Say goodbye to the past. People would have such a bright future if they learned to let go of past hurt. You can’t go back in time and erase what happened so why dwell on it? Today is a new day which means you need to wipe the slate clean. The road to future endeavors and pursuing your dreams is difficult enough without carrying past baggage.
What are some ways you try to lower your guard?
