There is a thin line between your fragility and other people’s fragility.

They often live in the same space.

I don’t like this project – It can be interpreted as an attack, a lack of trust, a doubt on your skils, a revenge for something you once said (your fragility); and at the same time, it can be a manifestation of fear, uncertainty, adversity to risk, a different mindset (other people’s fragility).

Someone not returning your greeting – It can be interpreted as a dislike, a judgement, a strong preference to not spend time with you, a way to send a clear message about the meeting that is about to begin (your fragility); and at the same time, it can be a manifestation of a cluttered mind, uneasiness around others, a disinterest towards socialization, tension for the meeting that is about to begin (other people’s fragility).

Your role is to understand the boundaries of your fragility, the words and actions that trigger it, so that you can extend from there and accept other people’s fragility and their own effort to understand them.

Take the comment on the project and appreciate that it is feeding your lack of trust in your own skills; then move towards the other and sit with them as they explore their own side.

Take the greeting that was not returned and appreciate that it is triggering your struggle to belong, then move towards the other and sit with them as they explore their own side.

When you don’t do this, the thin line grows into a thick wall.