Robert Greene: The #1 Way to Protect Yourself From Being Deceived By Others

Key Takeaway:

• While many of us tend to prefer interacting online with others, we fail to realize how many cues and messages we lose out on. See, about 95% of the communication we receive from someone is through their non-verbal cues. When chatting with someone online, these are cues you can’t get. Thus, this creates an opportunity for both parties to fall into traps they otherwise may not if they were to interact with these people in person. 

• If you can’t detach yourself from your emotions, then you’re most likely an easy target for people who are masters at deceiving others and have their own agenda. That being said, it’s important to develop a sense of detachment from your emotions and being able to observe people objectively. This is because people tell on themselves all the time – but you need to be receptive to the cues.  When you take your emotions out of the equation, you can objectively analyze people who may be on a mission to extract something out of you.  Remember, people always tell on themselves – you just need to actually listen without letting your emotions get in the way to try and rationalize truths. 

• It’s human nature to point our finger at others and blame them for deceiving us, hurting us, or manipulating us. This is because it’s the easy way out. When you point the finger at someone, then you immediately relieve yourself of all responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen to you again… until it does. See, deception starts with you – YOU allowed yourself to be deceived. That’s why it’s important to be self-aware and look inwards. There may be some weaknesses or blind-spots you don’t realize you have that make you an easy prey.