This is a great reference piece for life. #2 and #8 are the most intriguing for me. The other ones are pretty straightforward to anyone who’s studied interpersonal communication (not to say they aren’t useful), but those two are sneaky ones. They both come from a place of compassion, but they backfire in the end.

2. “I know how you feel.”

When telling someone you know how they feel, it appears to come across as a cheap empathy grab. Some people think we all feel the same kinds of feelings, but our emotions are so diverse that it seems we can only approximate with one another. Best to listen than try to relate.

8. “Everything happens for a reason.”

I remember reflecting on a particularly dark time in my life, trying to figure out what the reason behind it was, and came to your conclusion that sometimes bad stuff just happens. There doesn’t necessarily need to be a reason. What’s funny is when people say that everything happens for a reason, they usually make no attempt to help you figure out what that reason is.

Anyway,

I really enjoyed this piece.

When we learn how to relate effectively, it’s like acquiring a social superpower.

Thanks for putting this together.