Microaggression Example

 

Insisting that you understand exactly what another brain is feeling is microaggression. No one ever completely understands what another person is going through. Period. All perceptions are unique to each individual brain because each human brain is different. Similar experiences? Maybe. Identical? Think again. If appropriate you might say that you do not understand what they are feeling and would be willing to listen to if they are comfortable sharing. However, that presupposes that you are able to listen nonjudgmentally and refrain from launching into your own story, or saying that what they are feeling is ridiculous, or telling them what they need to do. If you are unable to avoid such behaviors, it is better to say nothing or something like, “I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you.” My little French grandmother used to say, “It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”