We all know someone who cannot seem to land their point. They pile on context, backstories, and disclaimers, often making it sound like they are rambling. However, this is not usually an attempt to dominate the conversation. More often, they are trying desperately to avoid being misunderstood. When a speaker lacks trust in their own clarity, they use excessive words as a shield for safety.

The Root Cause: Fear and Uncertainty

The tendency to be long-winded stems from a fear of misinterpretatio...

I had an interesting experience recently with a family member that made me reflect on how easily people misunderstand boundaries.

They had said earlier that they would take responsibility for something, and I trusted that they would follow through. But partway through, they turned around and asked me to do some of the tasks instead, even though they knew I already had a lot on my plate. So, I asked a simple, direct question: “Why did you say you would do it, and then ask me to take it on?”

But...