Offense / Defense

When you're too defensive, you're offensive. That's the message of this mini podcast.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Offense/Defense

“When you defend yourself too often, it’s offensive,” so said The Grasshopper.

When we play defense all the time, we’re on edge because we believe we're under attack and all our effort goes into defending ourselves. But the question we rarely ask is: “What are we defending?”

We defend the image of ourselves that we’ve become comfortable with, whether it brings us comfort or not. How much time do you spend making a case for yourself?

The more often you’re in defensive mode, the more offensive you become. Think of the overbearing salesman who’s making the same point over and over again in an attempt to get you to buy. That’s how offensive we become when we defend who we think we are.

The authentic you needs no defense. It can stand on its own no matter how offensive someone else is being.

Note: There is a difference between physically and mentally defending yourself. Defending a physical attack is prudent; always mentally defending yourself is madness.

Who you think you are is a collection of selected, past pictures you've collaged together in your mind. Who you really are is all of the pictures, not just the ones that made it into your mental cork board.

You're the whole panorama, not just the snapshot you pretend is you. But when you start defending that one image, you diminish yourself by going on offense.

You're much deeper than who you think you are. The real you is like an ocean, and the made-up you is like a thimble.

You can spend the rest of your life offending others by defending that infinitesimal part of you OR you can begin to see the big picture – that there’s more to you than the surface reflects.

You can begin exploring your depths when you stop defending your limitations.

Begin to notice how defensive you are. Every time you notice and interrupt your defensive behavior, while it’s happening, the deeper you become. You finally get to a point when your defensive behavior starts to fade away, just like the false image that it was based on.

In football, they say the best offense is a good defense. In life, you can win without either.

All the best,

John