Avoid getting into the weeds with anyone – especially those snakes in the grass – even and also those close to you that very well may be well-meaning. We never want to wrestle with that proverbial pig, as we’ll surely get covered in mud, and, as we all know, the pig likes it.
Keeping the above in mind, ensures I always begin any interaction with anyone and everyone by taking them at face value, mainly because life’s too short. Who has time to vet even one solitary comment someone utters, not to mention the many, in time spending efforts to fact check? Further to this, most, if not all interactions we have with others, don’t have any real material effect on our day, let alone our lives or our well-being. Either engage on face value levels – if you have the time and inclination to do so – or disengage.
With respect to this position, I’m taking it in the context of social interactions. Conversely, conversations with those that we participate in, those with “making more monie” being the end game, are, of course, subject to scrutiny.
Specifically, I’m referring to those that we inevitably get into that we regret, ones during which we are only thinking of how much time they are taking away from what we’d rather be doing.
Taking everything except the most ridiculous stories or statements at face value from others – and not even considering their motives for telling or making them – saves time. Respond based on what’s introduced and by whom, where, when and how it’s presented, and then move on.
Some people will say that this can lead to being misled or appearing gullible to observers, but again, most of these types of interactions have little to no material effect on us and our lives. If it does have a material effect, then consider what is being said and by whom, sure. While doing that, for good measure, also consider carefully how, when, where and all the possible related reasons why they are saying it.
In my view, it never hurts to trim our interactions throughout our days. If you find there are those around you that simply contribute too much of “whatever” for your liking, be it drama, negativity, questionable commentary or behavior, or any other challenges, simply cut ‘em loose. Better yet, we should keep all but those that have not proven to be positive contributors to our lives, out of it in the first place.
Another thing I’ve learned along the way relating to this, is that many involved in conversations simply don’t pay close attention to them and/or misunderstand important aspects of them, like the meaning of those words being spoken and/or hearing them correctly.
It’s been a positive that for whatever reason, I’ve always been able to spot intellectual dishonesty almost immediately upon the rearing of its ugly head. Unfortunately, this also seems to have enabled me to pick up on instances whereby someone in the conversation either doesn’t get the gist of it, cannot pick up on sarcasm when used, or has responded too quickly, usually to what they thought they heard, rather than what was actually said, resulting in the conversation going completely sideways.
My efforts on this front have seen me having to reverse-engineer more conversations that I care to remember – and not for me, but for those actively in them. Despite being an inactive participant, but nonetheless actually, critically listening, I wind up being a verbal cut off man – like a shortstop relaying an outfield throw to the infielder in position to get the out – ensuring the incoming words spoken get delivered and heard in the proper context by the other party to the conversation accurately. Sigh.
I used to think interpreters were only required for translation between those that don’t speak each other’s languages, not lazy listeners!
Disclaimer: The information contained herein should not be construed or considered professional advice. Nonetheless, thanks for reading! If it resonates, there’s “plenty more where that came from” on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X ‘n’ YouTube.