A few days ago, I was on a call with a client I found a bit intimidating. I would quietly worry that he wasn’t satisfied with anything I was saying, so I usually tried to overexplain.
This time, a few minutes into the call, he surprised me by saying, “Yasmine, I want to explain something. I have a chronic disease that sometimes makes it hard for me to form my speech or get to the point.”
What I had mistaken for discontent was actually something he was struggling with.
I know how hard it can be to share something like that. But when he said it, it helped me understand where he was coming from and listen more carefully to what he was trying to communicate.
You do not owe anyone details about your health or your struggles. And my client did not need to explain himself. But he did that, not out of obligation, but as an act of love and respect for himself. He knows this is one of his challenges, and he is not afraid or ashamed to name it to a complete stranger.
And guess what?
When he told me that, I responded, “I have ADHD, and sometimes, especially when I’m exhausted, my thoughts move so fast that I can’t form meaningful sentences in either of the two languages I speak.”
He smiled, and with just ten seconds of vulnerability, we ended up understanding each other better. I also felt much more comfortable during the meeting.
I once learned that when you name your vulnerability without shame, people usually do not judge you the way you fear they will. More often, they meet you with understanding.
I try to carry that lesson with me.
And now I get to witness that from the other side.
My client showed me what it feels like when I tell someone, “Give me a minute to process my thoughts and articulate this better.”
No overexplaining.
No shame.
Just love, and the quiet feeling of being grounded in my own mind and body.
#FridaysThoughtsOnLove #TheYasminism
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