Picking up wrong signs

"I might have misunderstood the signs and it is completely my fault."

Did you ever just assume and picked up the wrong signs? How many times have you predicted someone else’s thoughts? Recently, I happen to come across a little funny and stupid habit. I tend to assume a lot. I assume that I will get that job by just praying. I assume that the other person likes me even when he did not say so. I can assume anything.

It hit me yesterday, how easily we can assume other’s thoughts and move on. I made a friend who was nice to me but I assumed and I moved on. Do we ever think about how the other person might feel? It was not at all difficult to think whatever was convenient to me. But what about the empathy that we used to speak of? "I understand" but do I?

Everybody is saying do not think about others, do whatever you want to. But just like every fundamental right, some requirements should be fulfilled. Yes, we have the freedom of speech until or unless the words are not hurtful to the other person. But this is where the subjectivity arrives. One might take nothing to heart but few might get pricked by a single word. We all have to set up boundaries so that no one ends up hurt. That’s why it is so easy with friends because you already have a boundary beyond where they can take it personally.

  

The key is to think about others too. Ponder about how they will feel about it. They might be in another fight that you do not know about. Put yourself in their shoes and act empathetically. I am not stressing to think about what will others say, but about what will the person feel. My friend felt terrible, the way I reacted. He came out with it and I am on a guilt trip since then. You can save yourself from these trips.

And now for the person on the other side, do not wait to communicate how it felt. I know it might be difficult but let it out. Overthinking may lead to different hurtful conclusions. The conclusions which are not in the picture at all can also be predicted. By not telling the person how he/she made you feel, is also assuming. Assuming, how will they react?

Do not assume, ask. Treat people like you want to be treated. Ask yourself, if you were to meet you, would you like yourself?