Categories
motivation

Toxic Phrases and Emotional Intelligence

I know how you feel. But can’t you just start feeling good? I’ve been thinking about times I haven’t displayed emotional intelligence when I’ve had some glib answer to a complicated issue. It’s easy to do, isn’t it? It’s very easy to be an armchair quarterback when we aren’t the one dealing with an issue.

This article from Inc.com hit home for me. I’ve probably said these phrases to someone else more than once. Have you ever said…

  • Can’t you just…
  • I know how you feel
  • How’s it going? Great, right?

Modern communication can be quite a challenge. It can be difficult because we want to be helpful. We also want to bring another person up when they’re feeling down. Yet, we tend to forget how annoyed we can feel when someone has a pat answer for a challenge we face.

I also realize the positive articles I post may turn off someone who is going through a tough time. I don’t know how you feel. Most problems are more complicated than a simple answer and I can’t possibly know your situation.

However, I also know we each need some positive content throughout our daily lives. I will resolve to continue posting positive articles while realizing I will need to handle it differently if we faced each other one-on-one.

We’re good, right? See? There I go again!

Categories
Attitude motivation

Each Heart Knows Its Own Bitterness

Empathy is hard. Nobody truly knows what another person is going through. We can’t fully know a person’s past. We can’t fully know what a person is going through at home and what events have shaped their view of the world.

Yet, empathy is so crucial because it gives us a moment to consider the other person isn’t exactly like you. Otherwise, it is tempting to write off a person. If we don’t consider the other person’s point of view, we can think they’re being unreasonable and silly.

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.

Proverbs 14:10

No person is truly like me. I come from a small hometown. Only three other people grew up in the same household as me. None of them went to the same college, lived in the same places and worked at the same workplaces. Nobody else has had the same lovely wife and kids. My life and experiences are unique, and so are yours. So how can I expect you to see things exactly the way I do?

Empathy is difficult. But it is so key in getting a glimpse of how the other person sees and reacts to the world.