A Trick For Productive Interactions – See The Other Person As Yourself
When interacting with another person, it’s easy to see them as separate from oneself. This is not the most productive way to approach an interaction. Instead, see the other person as yourself.
They are you, talking to yourself. You talking to your own consciousness. That may sound a tad schizophrenic and new-agey, but this approach has changed the way I experience conversations with others.
It helps me separate my ego from the situation and be far more objective about the messages coming into my life. And perhaps it’s allowed me to glean greater insight from conversations.
How This Approach Helps To Re-Frame A Situation
I have a tendency to get defensive when someone attempts to give me constructive criticism. I generally make an effort to remain indifferent externally, but internally I want to strangle them.
Lately, however, I’ve tried to see another person’s criticisms or suggestions as my own. This completely changes everything for me. I’m able to see them as some sort of messenger helping me out and challenging me to be better. Telling me the things I might already know deep down but haven’t made conscious yet.
And in several instances I was able to put some of these “suggestions from myself” into action and see good results.
Not only did this help avoid unnecessary anger and annoyance, but I was actually able to make some beneficial improvements to myself that I would have otherwise avoided out of sheer stubborn pride.
It helped me let the message in as opposed to putting up a wall.
On the flip side, I tend to quite like public praise. When someone compliments me in front of others.
Seeing this as me telling myself something positive is also helpful. I now see this as validation that I’m on the right path. It validates the things I put my effort into.
If someone says I’m glowing with health, it’s a reflection back to myself to stay the course with regards to diet and training.
If someone comments that I’m unusually well rounded and good at a lot of things, I feel glad that I’ve spent a lot of my free time learning new skills instead of watching TV.
And instead of only absorbing it as some sort of ego validation, I’m able to also see it as a beacon letting me know I’m on the right track.
Give It A Try
Not too much more to say about this. Just a quick post about this thought experiment I’ve been exploring lately. It’s proven to be a more productive way to interact. Give it a try and let me know how it works out for you.