It’s not easy to accept that, somewhere out there, is a person who is plotting or planning to take advantage of us either emotionally, physically or spiritually.
They may be nearby or they may be far away…but they seek to exploit us. They see something we have and they want it for themselves. They see us as nothing more than a target…a means to an end by bringing an end to our means.
Two options top the list of reactions to the acceptance that exploiters exist…protection or paranoia. One is methodical, the other hysterical.
Vigilance is important. There is a need to question everything…to take situations and circumstances apart and examine their elements. Red flags could well be the reaction of our subconscious self to those things being otherwise ignored, overlooked or forgiven.
There is a need to go with our gut…to listen to what our head and heart are telling us, investigate it in a bid to find the truth and act accordingly.
The danger is that over-enthusiastic protection can result in paranoia. Too much of one can lead us into too much of the other.
That’s where it’s important to be in a position where we can back ourselves…where we know and trust our own commonsense and judgement. There’s no doubt that there are flaws in such an attitude and mistakes can be made. Despite that it’s a long way in front of clinging to the belief that ignorance is bliss.
Knowledge is power and knowledge of self is a super power. More than that it is a protection that can be used to fend off individuals or organisations looking to take from us those things they do not deserve and over which they have no entitlement.
It’s important to be alert while not being alarmed.
What we have is ours to give but it should always be our choice to do the giving.
Gary Bentley Counselling 