15 min
Episode 174: Challenge #5 - Giving the Benefit of the Doubt Love Your Story: Stories and discussions about personal growth, mindset and living with intention
-
- Society & Culture
Episode 174: Challenge #5 - Giving the Benefit of the DoubtWelcome Listeners to the Love Your Story podcast. Today’s episode is a part of a series where I am going into more detail on each of the challenges in my book - LIFE - which stands for: Living Intentional and Fearless Everyday, the 21 Life Connection Challenges - today is all about Challenge #5 - Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Just a quick recap -
In episode 12 and 89 I went into some wonderful detail about the process of doing Random Acts of Kindness, which is Challenge # 1 in the 21 Life Connection Challenges.
In episode 163 I went into detail with Ashley Stuart, a de-clutter expert, and we talked about why challenge #2 - to get rid of 1 thing you no longer need - is so much more important than this simple act seems on the surface.
In episode 169 I tackled an in-depth on challenge #3 where we looked at what it really means and looks like to find the lesson in something that doesn’t go your way. Again, great stuff with expert Leslie Householder on finding the gratitude and lesson in our trials or disappointments.
In episode episode 171 we got into detail about why Challenge #4 - a life hack I call “Success-file” is so important to living happy.
And today we are on Challenge #5 - which is - Giving people the benefit of the doubt and how that becomes relationship changing.
The recaps of these challenges is about getting into more detail about why the challenge was included in the book, to hear what experts have to say about the topic, and to see what it looks like in real life.
These 21 Challenges are not just a random bunch of challenges I threw together. They have been chosen for specific reasons, and the shifts they cause in every day lives just by using them. That’s what these episodes are about - is delving into why each challenge is important.
So let’s talk about the challenge of giving someone the benefit of the doubt. —challenge #5.
Giving someone the benefit of the doubt may be easier than it sounds. But first let’s talk about what it is:
The Urban Dictionary says, To give someone the benefit of the doubt is to default to the belief that their intentions are honest, and not assume malice when there is uncertainty or doubt surrounding the circumstances.
Or, in other words, to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either.
The reason this challenge is included is because this small decision will make a huge difference in your relationships, and the challenges are to help you create connection in your life.
Benefit of the doubt example:
John didn't pay me back the $20 he owes me, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he simply forgot and isn't trying to rip me off.
Jill is late, but there must be a good reason and it’s not just because she doesn’t respect my time.
My spouse hasn’t done what they agreed to do, but before getting upset I’ll talk to them about it - something probably got in the way.
Let’s talk about doing it ….giving the benefit of the doubt?
When someone does or says something that irritates you, feels unfair, or feels like a betrayal, giving the benefit of the doubt means that you consciously change the way you are interpreting the situation and the story you are building around it, and instead find a way to give that person the benefit of the doubt that they did not mean offense, that they are doing the best they can, that there is part of the story you don’t understand, or consider that there may be a misunderstanding.
People rub up against each other (metaphorically speaking) all the time; it’s what we do. There are rubs and irritants, and miscommunications every day. But if everyone gave each other...
Episode 174: Challenge #5 - Giving the Benefit of the DoubtWelcome Listeners to the Love Your Story podcast. Today’s episode is a part of a series where I am going into more detail on each of the challenges in my book - LIFE - which stands for: Living Intentional and Fearless Everyday, the 21 Life Connection Challenges - today is all about Challenge #5 - Give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Just a quick recap -
In episode 12 and 89 I went into some wonderful detail about the process of doing Random Acts of Kindness, which is Challenge # 1 in the 21 Life Connection Challenges.
In episode 163 I went into detail with Ashley Stuart, a de-clutter expert, and we talked about why challenge #2 - to get rid of 1 thing you no longer need - is so much more important than this simple act seems on the surface.
In episode 169 I tackled an in-depth on challenge #3 where we looked at what it really means and looks like to find the lesson in something that doesn’t go your way. Again, great stuff with expert Leslie Householder on finding the gratitude and lesson in our trials or disappointments.
In episode episode 171 we got into detail about why Challenge #4 - a life hack I call “Success-file” is so important to living happy.
And today we are on Challenge #5 - which is - Giving people the benefit of the doubt and how that becomes relationship changing.
The recaps of these challenges is about getting into more detail about why the challenge was included in the book, to hear what experts have to say about the topic, and to see what it looks like in real life.
These 21 Challenges are not just a random bunch of challenges I threw together. They have been chosen for specific reasons, and the shifts they cause in every day lives just by using them. That’s what these episodes are about - is delving into why each challenge is important.
So let’s talk about the challenge of giving someone the benefit of the doubt. —challenge #5.
Giving someone the benefit of the doubt may be easier than it sounds. But first let’s talk about what it is:
The Urban Dictionary says, To give someone the benefit of the doubt is to default to the belief that their intentions are honest, and not assume malice when there is uncertainty or doubt surrounding the circumstances.
Or, in other words, to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either.
The reason this challenge is included is because this small decision will make a huge difference in your relationships, and the challenges are to help you create connection in your life.
Benefit of the doubt example:
John didn't pay me back the $20 he owes me, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he simply forgot and isn't trying to rip me off.
Jill is late, but there must be a good reason and it’s not just because she doesn’t respect my time.
My spouse hasn’t done what they agreed to do, but before getting upset I’ll talk to them about it - something probably got in the way.
Let’s talk about doing it ….giving the benefit of the doubt?
When someone does or says something that irritates you, feels unfair, or feels like a betrayal, giving the benefit of the doubt means that you consciously change the way you are interpreting the situation and the story you are building around it, and instead find a way to give that person the benefit of the doubt that they did not mean offense, that they are doing the best they can, that there is part of the story you don’t understand, or consider that there may be a misunderstanding.
People rub up against each other (metaphorically speaking) all the time; it’s what we do. There are rubs and irritants, and miscommunications every day. But if everyone gave each other...
15 min