The Thing We Do Most That Helps Us the Least

It’s often said that, in the absence of proper information, people come to their own conclusions.

Have you ever made an assumption about a situation that simply wasn’t true?

For example, when someone doesn’t call or text back immediately, do you assume they are being dismissive, or do you think they may not be in a position to get back to you immediately?

When you approach someone and they seem distracted or not entirely friendly, do you immediately think it has something to do with you, or do you consider they may be preoccupied or going through something distressing?

Shakespeare aptly said, “There is nothing good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.” He understood so well that our minds can manufacture entire scenarios that are based completely on our often flawed interpretations.

Knowing this, we must strive to ask questions that get us closer to understanding what is really happening and make us less prone to jump to conclusions or take situations personally when it’s not necessary.

Questions such as: “My sense is that you are disappointed with X, am I understanding the situation correctly?” Or, “Yesterday things seemed a little off to me when we spoke, are you okay?” 

So often our first instinct is to take the situation personally and it takes practice and repetition to press pause and ask the right questions.