This chapter explores the concept of defensiveness, the symptoms associated with it, and its impact on communication. It provides strategies to stop being defensive in relationships, emphasizes the value of receiving feedback for personal growth, examines the potential reasons for defensiveness and how to address them, and offers cues for clarity and mindfulness to change defensive behavior.
When someone comes to you with negative feedback, do you get defensive?
Do you automatically come up with reasons why you did something, building a case for the way you did it?
Do you shift the blame onto someone else?
Or does your heart start racing?
If this resonates, you are not alone. It is human to want to defend your choices, actions, and beliefs.
But defensiveness damages our relationships, which is why this episode is all about becoming more aware of defensive behavior and what you can do instead.
I am covering the signs and symptoms of defensiveness, why we get defensive in the first place, and strategies you can use to become less defensive.
Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/548