Day 850

These loving faces might be saying, “Mommy, I adore you more than anything!” In reality, their honest message was, “Give me that doughnut!” Sometimes, there can be mixed messages!

There have been times in my own life when mixed messages have caused some issues. Although I might have delivered some of those myself, the real confusion probably was on my own receiving end. Having been labeled a Pollyanna more than once in my life, there have been people who were not as sincere as I believed them to be. I take full responsibility for trusting motives that might have been less than sincere. The older I become, the better my perceptions of intent become.

Although it might sound cynical, it is simply illuminating. When I encounter mixed messages now, I often see through to the cause of the confusion. People who are not totally clear or honest so often are sharing a personal mixed message of their own. They might be experiencing feelings of insecurity, ineffectiveness, timidity or a lack of confidence. It has been my experience that, relying on empathy, you can usually turn an encounter from mixed message to honesty by embracing someone’s underlying needs.

Now as for that doughnut…those Goldens will confuse me with their devoted faces every single time!