It is funny how we easily get defensive, especially in moments meant to make us feel good or safe. It can be confusing, like, why would we put up walls when we’re trying to relax or connect with others?
The truth is, human behaviour is the result of millions of years of both evolution and psychology. We are the most developed species on Earth, and who we are today is the result of a very long journey.
Why do we become defensive?
Our DNA carries traces of everything our species has endured, including past events, traumas, and struggles. These experiences still influence us today. That’s why we usually react defensively without knowing why. Examining the connection between psychology and evolution can help us understand these tendencies and provide an opportunity to grow beyond them.
Evolution: A Journey through Time
To truly understand why we act this way, we have to look at evolution. Across countless generations, humans have experienced a range of emotions, including fear, joy, hope, love, cruelty, and beauty. All of these emotions have left lasting marks on both our bodies and our minds.
Charles Darwin explained that when humans left the trees and began to adapt to new challenges, our brains changed drastically. These changes prepared us for survival in the world we live in now, shaping how we think and react.
The Psychological Structure: The Fortress Within
Our brains built up defence systems that can help us handle life challenges. Those systems act like barriers that protect us from outside threats, allowing us to watch and evaluate what’s happening around us. But behind these walls is the fear of being hurt, rejected, or attacked.
We defend not only our physical selves but also our self-image, which is built from our experiences, lessons, and cultural influences. These defences play a significant role in our relationships with the people around us and how we perceive ourselves. But it’s important to remember that they are just survival tools and not our true selves.
The Unyielding Grip of Survival Instincts
Survival is the most basic instinct found in every living thing. Even before birth, humans begin setting boundaries and protecting themselves in the womb. As we grow, this instinct doesn’t just protect our bodies; it also starts to safeguard our identity and self-image.
Although our world has advanced with science, technology, and longer lifespans, our survival instincts remain remarkably strong. In fact, they’ve expanded into psychological territory, making us fiercely protective of ourselves.
The Struggle within a Defensive Mindset
Today, this need to defend ourselves often turns into battles for control—whether between individuals in daily life or even leaders on a global scale. The problem is, the very walls we’ve built to protect ourselves also trap us.
But the very defences we build to protect us can become the cages that lock us in stress and unhappiness. Yes, they can shield us from pain, and also trap us in fear that limits our ability to enjoy life. What was meant to give us freedom now narrows our perspective and keeps us in patterns that block our happiness.
Embracing the Magrin Method: Unlocking the Path to Liberation
Breaking free from the defences we’ve built around ourselves can be impossible, mainly because of how closely our thoughts and body sensations are tied together. This cycle is often called the “Loop.” Negative emotions usually begin with specific thoughts, which create tension in the body and then fuel the feelings even more.
Over the years, especially during our childhood, we’ve all stored some painful experiences in our minds. To protect ourselves, we have pushed those memories and feelings deep into our unconscious minds, forgetting that burying them doesn’t make them disappear. Instead, they show up in different ways, like stress, discomfort, or emotional struggles.
What makes this even more challenging is that the cycle works both ways. Just as negative thoughts create physical tension, that tension can spark even more negative thoughts, trapping us in a loop of suffering. The pain isn’t just in our minds; it shows up in our bodies too, sometimes in very intense ways.
The Magrin Method gave us a way out of this pattern. It helps us understand how the Loop works and teaches us how to release the sensations tied to those negative thoughts. Most of the time, these feelings show up in the throat, chest, or stomach. But when we pay close attention to them and allow the sensations to shift, they will eventually fade. Throughout this process, we focus on being present, beginning with awareness of our hands and feet and then expanding until we are connected with our whole body.
As we release each Loop, another layer of distress falls away. With every release, we feel lighter, calmer, and more at peace. This creates space for our true selves to emerge. In this state, often called “mindlessness,” we no longer live weighed down by unnecessary defences. Instead, we regain control of our lives and begin to fully experience the beauty of being alive both within ourselves and in the world around us.
Magrin Method: Embracing our Natural State
In trying to protect ourselves, many of us unknowingly build masks that hide our real essence. These defences may be necessary, but they often end up trapping us instead. When we look at how evolution affects us and how our thoughts tie into our physical feelings, we start to see a way out.
The Magrin Method helps us break down the barriers we’ve created and reconnect with what lies beneath them. It guides us back to a more natural state filled with joy, calm, and freedom. When we shed what we no longer need, we see the vibrant, genuine selves we were always meant to be.
Reference: Andrea Magrin
