In one of the many events I’ve attended over the last few days I met a former yoga instructor.  She spent a lot of time talking about how she transitioned from yoga to specializing in pain management.  She also spent a lot of time explaining to me why she was no longer a yoga instructor most of it centered around how it was somewhat beneath her now.  She’s advanced her career so much that now she was a paid speaker. Listening to her rant didn’t have me convinced enough to go look for her events.  Clearly we talked about what we do but she was set on tell me how their was no money in my industry because people didn’t value the service.  Much like any uninterested party I began to tune out her message.  It didn’t apply to me and I had no need.

The next morning her words began to echo in my head.  Then it came to me that maybe the people who came to her didn’t value her as an instructor because she didn’t value her own service.  It’s also possible that she started down a path to get her somewhere else. Meaning her experience was part of the journey but not the destination. Instead of having an awareness, she was projecting on to me her unsuccessful experience.  Projecting ones’ experience is an unconscious coping mechanism used to deal with unhealed emotions and unresolved experiences. Rather than acknowledging our own fears, feelings and wounds we make them someone else’s problem.  Or we provide them with a platform on how that person should expect to a similar outcome, uncertainty or fate.

We are the sum of our experiences.  It seems to me she changed vocations but hadn’t changed her mindset. In fact her message of empowering others through awareness of the body was similar to my own.  The only difference is I value what I do.  I find purpose in my message.  I find purpose in helping other people create a purposeful life.  I find purpose in hearing other creators’ stories.  We are all creating something whether we are conscious of it or not.  I find purpose in being supportive and positive. When I learned to myself  and my experiences, I found purpose in my thoughts, words and actions.  I learned to value my gifts  and experiences. Therefore the people attracted to me will have the same qualities.

When someone is projecting their experiences, fears and uncertainty pay attention. As you hear the message determine if it’s positive and uplifting or negative and unuseful. Become the observer and listen for the underline message. Notice the messengers’ body movements and facial expressions. Think about the following

• Does the person seem to be a subject matter expert?
• Is the focus on their view of their experience?  Did they have a positive outcome?
• Does the person seem comfortable with their experience?
• Is the person self-absorbed? Is the person even listening to you?
• How is that message tied into the messengers experience?
• Is the person explaining what you should expect?
• Is the message about protecting you from harm or preventing you from making a mistake?
• Are you being offered unsolicited advice on how to run your life and/or business?
• Does the message seem logical or anyway tied into what you have already experienced?
• If still in doubt after you leave the person does any part of their message resonate with you?
• Did it inspire you forward or bring you to your knees in fear of the what ifs?

If you are still unsure find a quiet place and ask your inner self if this was a projection of the speakers fears and how can you learn from the experience. Then send love to and thank the messenger.  That person provided a crash course in how to deal with unsolicited projections from other people.

Peace and Blessings