Assume positive intent. Whenever you enter an interaction assuming positive intent from the other party, your relationship will improve. No one purposely sets out to hurt you. People are grappling with their own issues. If you assume positive intent, you will find most people rise to that expectation. However, if they don’t, trust that they are doing the best they can, and their reaction has very little to do with you.
You can’t read minds. Nevertheless, you walk around proclaiming why someone did or said something. You assume someone’s personality, characters, and values cause them to do whatever they did. Or, you accuse them of doing or saying something to get revenge. Once these conclusions enter your mind, you start acting as if they are real.
Assume Positive Intent to Be More Effective
Whatever someone says or does, try to assume positive intent. By following this advice, your entire approach to a person or problem becomes very different. On the other hand, when you assume negative intent, you become angry or annoyed. End the cycle of anger or annoyance and assume positive intent. In doing so, you’ll be able to listen generously and speak genuinely far more effectively.
Furthermore, by looking for positive intent and giving people the benefit of the doubt, you give yourself a chance to learn the situation’s details. Once you learn those details, you might just find they did the best with that they had, where they were. More importantly, assuming positive intent makes it easier for the other person to engage in productive conversation rather than a defensive one.
Assuming positive intent isn’t the easiest change you can make. But, by doing so, you open yourself up to receive more joy and fulfillment in life. When you assume positive intent, you start to trust, and as a result, you attract more wholehearted, healthy people who will treat you with respect and grace.
