Last week, I talked about taking responsibility for your problems. Another way that we avoid taking responsibility is through denial. Denial feels good in the moment because it keeps the emotions associated with a problem at bay. But it doesn’t keep the problem at bay. The short term advantage of ignoring a problem will only make the problem increase over time. It will begin to compound daily with interest and sometimes added fees!
Three things to do to ward off denial:
1) Get in the habit of asking for help when needed. Be willing to receive what you need. If this is hard, start small. Even accepting compliments graciously can begin to change the habit of being overly independent.
2) Observe your emotions. They are excellent indicators of when something needs to be attended to. It’s very hard to be in denial when you are mindful of your emotions.
3) And the hardest one for me: Listen to what others are saying about you. Don’t focus on being right. They are probably right at least as often as you are.(It’s easier to see a speck in someone else’s eye, than a log in our own: Mathew 7:4).
Three things to do to ward off denial:
1) Get in the habit of asking for help when needed. Be willing to receive what you need. If this is hard, start small. Even accepting compliments graciously can begin to change the habit of being overly independent.
2) Observe your emotions. They are excellent indicators of when something needs to be attended to. It’s very hard to be in denial when you are mindful of your emotions.
3) And the hardest one for me: Listen to what others are saying about you. Don’t focus on being right. They are probably right at least as often as you are.(It’s easier to see a speck in someone else’s eye, than a log in our own: Mathew 7:4).
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