Reeses is not naïve. She had some hard knocks in her early life that we’re still sorting out. One of the things we’ve had to work with her is to not assume every male walking into our house is a threat. But it’s so hard when she has a history of men not always being well-intentioned. How does one switch that gear?
But how does this apply to me?
All of us struggle at some point with assumptions based on our experiences. While it can make us wiser it can also make us cynical.
This is where MRI comes into play. Nope, this isn’t an imagining machine we’re talking about. However what MRI stands for in this case does have something to do with a picture. When working with others, we often get a picture of what has happened in a situation. Sometimes it’s first hand and the what and why behind the action is clearly communicated. Other times, the imagery is a little more degraded-kind of like a bad MRI. You don’t quite know what led up to it, what was the motivation behind it, or if there were other factors that you aren’t taking into consideration.
So what’s the deal with this MRI talk?
This is when you can apply the MRI–Most Reasonable Interpretation. What do I mean by most reasonable? It doesn’t mean to think through the most reasonable way that person was doing something slimy. The most reasonable interpretation of why that person did what they did assumes they had the best interest of those involved and the impact that decision would make on others. It’s our nature to assume the worst, especially when someone has shown that they don’t always have the best intentions.
But have you ever been blamed for doing something for reasons that have nothing to do with what your actual motive was? It doesn’t feel good. This is your turn to take the high road. Maybe it’s worth even approaching the person to find out more about the what and why behind the situation. When you go into that conversation, go into it with your MRI, and see where things go.
Another way of looking at this is to always assume the best, be prepared you might be wrong, and seek clarity to find out what is the truth. Would you rather be proven wrong from time to time than to approach this world assuming the worst from people? Some use that as a shield, but what a sad way to approach life. It’s ok to get let down every now and then, people are flawed, but the world looks so much better when you start by assuming the best in others. If Reeses can work this skill, then maybe we all should too?
Like lessons from Reeses? Check out another one.