Seek to understand before you judge

It is easy to make assumptions about the behavior or actions of others--especially if they behave in ways we don’t like. These assumptions can lead to distrust, anger, and even hate. However, if we try to understand the motivation behind the behavior and see the situation from the other person’s point of view, it takes some of the emotion out of our reaction. It might not change our opinion about the behavior but it will help us deal with it more calmly. It might even lead to an opportunity for constructive dialog!