When a person responds to information with anger, resistance, counterattack, or withdrawal. When an observer’s analysis of our behavior differs from ours, we often respond defensively, because we are embarrassed at being viewed in a way we do not find complimentary. Most of the time, the observer has good intentions, but sometimes they are just being cruel. Our best strategy is to pause before responding, prepare an intelligent and unemotional response to their statement, and ask ourselves, “Is there anything in what that person just told me that could help me be a better athlete/person?W
