Benefit of the Doubt

Definition: A favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence...

Practical Application: Every time someone says something that can be interpreted negatively, or stops talking as you walk into a room, or when others are in conversation across the room and look at you and laugh, if someone appears to deliberately delay something or be difficult, or sometimes even if someone looks at you funny...

It is far too easy to presume something negative has been said or thought by others, to presume others have been talking about you or are hiding things from you. Women, this can be especially relevant for us, as many tend to overthink/analyse people's comments and reactions and all too soon we can develop negative feelings towards a person because of something that may not have been intended at all! Sound familiar? We live in a generation that is far too untrusting, suspicious, cynical and negative, and those old fashioned niceties like the benefit of the doubt are disappearing.

Besides from making life far nicer for yourself by thinking more positively about others, it can often diffuse a somewhat difficult atmosphere by ignoring those comments which could be negatively interpreted by not letting them get to you. Try giving "favorable judgement in the absence of full evidence" this week. This is not being naive, but trusting.