Mind, not only what people say,
but how they say it.
Lord Chesterfield
You have to learn to read people. Don’t just listen to the words that they speak, but also pay attention to their mannerisms. Listen to the tone of their voice. Are they being sarcastic or sincere? Are they just blowing off steam? Do they really mean what they are saying?
Pay attention to their facial expressions and their eyes. Their overall manner of speaking can tell you a lot about the underlying meaning of their words. Think about what is motivating them to say what they are saying.
The majority of people no longer live by the old adage that their word is their honor. They don’t think twice about lying straight to your face and they can do it without even batting an eyelash. You have to learn to read between the lines. Learn to distinguish between the man of honor, who means what he says and says what he means, and the dishonorable man who will say whatever is to his advantage, whether it is true or not. Many people have perfected the art of deception.
Even the truth can have different meanings, depending on how it is spoken. You have to become proficient at looking beyond the obvious, and evaluate not only what is being said, but how it is being said. What is the person truly trying to express or hide with his words?
Don’t just take someone’s words at face value. Look for the “real” meaning behind the words. It is important to be more insightful than the average person who is deceived time and time again by what people say. Bohdi Sanders ~ excerpt from Defensive Living: The Other Side of Self-Defense available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EF7U8M. Signed copies are available from https://thewisdomwarrior.com.
