Anger Is Only for the One Who Speaks
“Anger is only for the one who speaks. It never opens the heart of one who listens.”
~ “Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder”
She was normally incredibly responsive, but she hadn’t responded to my final email.
Had I pushed her too far?
Was she not happy with the work we had done together?
I began telling myself a story that reflected my view of the world
and had nothing to do with her.
I told myself
She was unhappy.
She wouldn’t recommend me.
Or worse - she was upset with me.
Two weeks went by
with no response.
I finally reached out.
Was she happy with the final product?
I wanted to know.
Her response:
Her Mother had been sick
and passed away 2 days ago.
The story I had been telling myself
led me to intrude upon her grief.
Our communications with other people
are so often based on the stories we tell ourselves.
We are not responding to the other person’s reality.
They do not land the way we think they will.
We often communicate something
to make ourselves feel better.
It is best not to let negative emotions
propel what we say or how we say it.
When you’re ready:
I’m currently helping a Fortune 5 Executive Vice President tell her story, revise her resume, create a board bio, and update her LinkedIn profile. Let’s talk about your story and how you can get the recognition and position you deserve: GHEIM@GRAYSONHAYDEN.COM
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