My husband tells me I do something that drives him crazy. He says I make assumptions about what he is thinking and talk to him in statements. For example, he says I say, “So, you want to go out to eat,” or “You think I salt our food too much when cooking.” I’m just saying what I think I see or hear. What’s wrong with that?
The problem with talking in declarative statements about what you assume the other person thinks or feels is that he or she may not think or feel that way at all. It is much better to ask a direct question. Most of the time, you’ll get a direct answer. For example, “Would you like to go out to eat?” Or “Do you think I salt our food too much when I cook?”
When you make statements, you might be correct, but no one likes to be spoken for. We all want to chance to clarify our opinions or positions on something by responding to a direct question. Try this with your husband and let me know if you see a difference in your interactions.
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