It’s important to consider the emotions of who you are talking to. It sounds obvious, but it doesn’t come as easy to us as we think it does. I’ve found it’s usually with people I am just getting to know that I gloss over and either:

• Assume that they don’t care OR
• Don’t think about whether they care

So, how to fix this?

Knowing is half the battle. Coming to terms with it is the next step. Be honest with yourself: you have probably stepped on more than a few toes without meaning to. It’s not because you’re malicious or mean at all! You honestly didn’t realize what you were doing.

Once you know, your ultimate goal is to see it coming and prevent it. This will take bitty steps! Start by trying to find those situations in your life. Once you see the patterns, then you can try and see them as they happen. Eventually you’ll start seeing it before the damage is done.