Each of us would like to be treated with care and respect, so it should be our intent to give this to others. But often we do the exact opposite. Instead of trying to ensure that the other person feels loved and appreciated, we end up in a vicious circle of recrimination and attack.

The vicious circle can be broken if we start recognizing that, like us, the other person wants to feel loved and at ease. Our intention then becomes: How can I communicate so that the other person does not feel attacked or rejected, but cared for and respected?

See also essay on Kindness