23-294 Just the Facts #7

The Mandala Lady, , , , , , ,

Today’s Mandala Message: Notice Your Projections

This week I’m working through Principle #52 “When In Doubt, Check It Out”. I set my intention today to ponder how I project my past onto my present…with people and situations. Continuing with the article I referenced yesterday by Catherine Winter on AConsciousRethink.com about assumptions, she offers 8 ways to help us stop making assumptions. Today I’m addressing number 4: Be aware of your own projections.

She states: “Many people fall into the habit of assuming things of others because it’s what they have (or haven’t) experienced themselves. For example, if you’ve been cheated on in the past, you might assume that the partner who’s late calling or texting you is cheating, because that’s what you’ve been wired to brace yourself against. Or, if you had someone close to you die in a car accident, you may assume the worst when your partner is late coming home. These assumptions are projections from previous experiences, and can cause far more emotional strife than necessary.” She also offers another guide that tells you “how to know if you are projecting onto someone.”

I find that I do this a lot…too many to go into here. For me it’s almost a game, to see if my assumptions about what people will do or say are spot on or not. Most of the time they are not. Having read this section today, I’m realizing I need to stop projecting and be more present with what is rather than what was.

A good mindfulness practice would be to notice if you ever project a past experience onto a present situation.

So how about you? Do you project a past experience onto others? Do you assume just because someone has a particular job or a certain look about them or drive a certain type of car that you make assumptions about them?

“Assumptions
are the termites
of relationships.”

— Henry Winkler

Blessings,

Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas

An Invitation

I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.

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Published by The Mandala Lady

My Mission: connecting with our Inner Light in delightful, inspiring ways For me, creating mandalas is more than just coloring pretty patterns in a circle. I do it because my spiritual evolution and creativity require it of me. My mandala designs come about within an active meditative state, connected with my higher self, my spiritual guides and nature spirits. Together, we bring into form, mandala art the allows me to re-connect with my own inner peace and joy, letting me explore and expand my own creative spirit to however far and in whatever direction I want to take it. As part of my own spiritual journey, I encourage, and hopefully inspire, others to explore their own creativity, to help them re-connect with their own inner peace and joy. As a means to that end, I make all of my mandalas available for people to color. Why should I have all the fun?

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