Ignoring Reality Only Works for So Long
How to tackle uncomfortable situations - without shutting down
“If you allow space for personal reflection, you may discover an acceptable way to resolve an unpleasant situation.” — Jill Reid | Discover Your Personal Truth
Why do we find ourselves shutting down when we hear or see things that are uncomfortable?
You know what I mean. Someone gives us bad news, or we hear others having a negative conversation, or we see a stream of dreadful stories on TV.
And our minds retract, not wanting to let any of the pessimistic debris touch us - in any way.
So are we a bunch of cowards, afraid to face the facts of life like a mature human being?
Frankly, I began to have doubts about my own perceptions of life. Even more important, I needed to know why my response always seemed to be one of retreat.
Deep down, I knew there had to be a good reason for my behavior - an answer that supported my personal defense mechanism.
Here’s an excerpt from a story in Discover Your Personal Truth that explores these concepts and helped bring me back to center. I hope it provides you with the same level of assurance and confidence.
Can Choosing Denial Keep You Sane?
Recently, I’ve noticed a slight change in my behavior.
When confronted with an unknown or uncomfortable situation, my personal gatekeeper immediately pulls up the drawbridge of denial. I don’t remember setting this trigger, and I had to get to the bottom of it.
I needed to know why my otherwise curious mindset was being prompted to become overly cautious—even suspicious.
I began asking myself a few questions.
Why was I quickly pushing back against negative situations with defensive rejection? And what was keeping me from considering an alternative perspective—one that could bring an interesting viewpoint or lesson?
Maybe I’d subconsciously convinced myself to use a different approach strategy. By setting uncomfortable situations aside, I wouldn’t have to face them head-on.
And until I was ready, I was using a coping mechanism—denying the importance, significance, or consequences of the situation.
At least temporarily.
The more I thought about it, the more I reasoned that my defensive wall might be a good thing.
Apparently, I’m not always ready to deal with the realities of life when they happen.
This instinctual reaction of rejecting situations—or even people—is often a knee-jerk response to being threatened with information or facts we’re not quite willing to accept or acknowledge.
Like a retractable drawbridge, this auto-doubting stop-gap projects itself as an internal self-defense system, allowing us to stay on track with the “normal” part of our lives without losing focus or momentum.
Because being forced out of balance by unwanted or unexpected events and circumstances can be very uncomfortable.
Read the full story in Discover Your Personal Truth . available in eBook and paperback at DiscoverYourPersonalTruth.com
Click Here to watch the Book Trailer on my YouTube Channel …
In health & happiness,
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Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, self-improvement, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.