Release your attempts at mind-reading when connecting with other people in your life. This happens when you believe you know what another person is thinking or feeling without direct communication from this person. I see you as I am not as you are so in order to see you for you it is essential that I step away from my perspectives. Mind reading flows from our desire to connect yet too often creates disconnect because essential pieces of information are missing.
Mind reading is similar to the story of the 3 blind men describing a different part of an elephant. In and of themselves, the descriptions hold truth yet the totality of the situation (the entire elephant experience) is highly compromised to each perspective.
If you act on assumptions rather than information, as is the case in mind reading, you take valuable information for granted and often times create a dis-connect. Mind reading is also a desirable choice of response in relationships when we want to avoid confrontation. Many times when we are spun by the actions of other people, it is fueled by more assumption than fact.
If you're wondering why someone says or does something, ask for clarity rather than assuming you know why they did what they did, or said what they said. Clarity of focus leads to accuracy of response every time.
Their response may not make sense with your model of the world yet it will give you the opportunity to see things from another person's life experience and create transparent communication.
Don't forget, your greatest teachers in this life are often times those who push your buttons. Replace your assumptions and expectations that walk hand in hand with mind reading, with curiosity and fascination: hmmm, that's interesting I wonder what they are thinking or why they made that choice of response? When in doubt, ask for clarity. When you ask for clarity around something you are wondering about, increase your confidence in your ability to be able to handle successfully what might be uncovered. This is earth school and each relationship is filled with numerous small lessons and invitations for growth and learning.
One of my daily prayers is this: "Dear God grant me the grace to pass today's test in earth school so that at the sunset of this life I will have learned what I signed up to learn during this amazing journey of life."
Award Winning Author/International Speaker/Managing Partner of Grab & Go Stress Solutions, receiving national and international recognition for her work in anxiety/stress relief management and personal excellence. In addition to being a conqueror of two of life’s top stressors at the same time: advanced cancer and divorce, Lauren is a Certified Master Business Success Coach and holds her Master Certification in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Advanced Training in EFT, two energy psychology modalities that support quick positive transformation. She meets with clients daily and facilitates monthly stress relief/personal excellence workshops and seminars within corporations and institutions. She has worked in youth and adult ministries for 20 years and holds her 2nd degree black belt from the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Visit her main website: http://LaurenEMiller.com.