Articles

Being intentional in our speech and in our actions requires us to stop and think which is a radical act of love and sanity.  Thinking before we say or do something is a more mindful and potentially peaceful way of relating.  It certainly is non-reactive and if we are concerned about not harming another with our words or behavior, then we must stop and think first.  

Harm comes to us when people make assumptions about our intentions and when those assumptions are pejorative. Unless there is evidence based on prior experience with you, when someone ascribes a negative intention to you, it will be a projection of prior experiences that had nothing to do with you. The impact on us when someone makes a negative assumption without checking it out first can be damaging and harmful.

By being intentional we ourselves can stop and think before we make a knee-jerk reaction, thereby giving someone the benefit of the doubt first. 

If you want to have better communication with others, then you can start by stopping and thinking first before you say or do something that is harmful.  Also, be mindful of when you are about to make a negative assumption about someone.  You might want to check it out first before you are critical of someone. 

Stopping to think about your intentions and to think about the impact that your words and actions have on another will create more peaceful and respectful communication.