“To see imperfection is a projection” – David R Hawkins
Projections are amazing things to watch out for. It can be, for example, where you want to do something and you justify it by saying someone else wants to do it.
You are projecting your wants onto the other person.
I do this a lot. I want to be in the countryside but I find myself saying “Let’s go, the cats will enjoy it”! I’ve become better and noticing it and do it far less than I used to but every now and then it pops up.
In Hawkins quote he is making the equally valid point that when you accuse others of something it is often the very something you are guilty of.
So if you feel most people are dishonest it could be because you spend a lot of time thinking dishonest thoughts like how to steal something. You may not act on it but because you know deep down you are a generally dishonest person you then project that on to others.
It doesn’t matter if you think a lot of thoughts about doing something dishonest – that is just your ego. What matters is that you are aware of it and you are aware that it is your ego.
When you are aware of that then you also become aware of you tendency to project it on to others.
You can then start to catch yourself in all sorts of areas. You realise you are saying you have to do something because X needs it when you really should be saying you want to do that something.
Hawkins is saying that we are all imperfect but the greater our feeling of being imperfect (even if it is a subconscious feeling) the more we see imperfection in others.
It makes the difference between seeing someone as “stubborn” or “strong minded” – the former is an imperfection, the latter an asset.
So the next time you see someone else’s imperfection just ask yourself “where is that coming from?”, “Why do I see an imperfection instead of an asset”.