The benefit of the doubt revisted

The benefit of the doubt changes how we view other people. It is so powerful in how relationships grow and in who or what we decide to trust.

When the picture is fuzzy, I often ask, “Does this person (or organization) still deserve the benefit of the doubt?”

When the answer hasn’t fit in a while, it should internally trigger an evaluation.

(The amount of clarity that comes from flipping the question around is enormous too. Like when a sibling or spouse gets on our nerves—when we are reminded that they deserve the benefit of the doubt, the petty stuff seems less important.)