When someone misunderstands your good intentions, whether it is a comment or an action, it’s hard not to have a knee jerk reaction, especially when it’s unexpected. But when you put your brain into gear and think about it, you will realise the other person has misunderstood for their own reasons, which more often than not you know nothing about. Your good intention may have hit a nerve, pushed a button, not agreed with their standpoint, but it is their issue, not yours, so don’t get upset.

Sometimes we get a chance to explain and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes it resolves and sometimes it doesn’t. However, if you do get a chance to explain, and it still doesn’t resolve, step away ~ don’t press the issue. Let them sort it out in their own way, in their own time. We can never step into anyone else’s thoughts or walk in their shoes ~ we simply don’t know where they are coming from unless they are willing to tell us.

So send a kind thought, and just let it be. We don’t all flow with each other’s energy in perfect harmony, but we can all learn from each other and be understanding. As the Chinese Proverb says ~ Be not disturbed at being misunderstood; be disturbed rather at not being understanding.

Inara Hawley © 2013