Defensiveness

Thinking about friends who don't mature as fast, a common trait seem to be defensiveness.

Defensiveness is a particularly pernicious problem because by virtue of a person being defensive, others are less likely to give them feedback.

It's almost always easier to maintain a so-so relationship with someone who is defensive, rather than endangering the friendship through constructive feedback. Over time, barring exceptional circumstances, the defensive person will continue to miss out on opportunities to grow and find themselves surrounded by shallow friendships.

The same principles apply to work. A person who is hostile to feedback will lock themselves out of working relationships and opportunities to grow.

My takeaway from this is to prioritize fixing my defensiveness over most other negative traits I might perceive in myself. This way, I can pave the way for meaningful relationships and personal growth in the future.

Categorized under: #social, #psychology