There’s a common axiom used in regards to interpersonal relationship: “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” The trouble with this course of thought is that saying nothing at all has little positive benefit. Some folks would never utter a syllable. I suggest an improvement to this line of reasoning, which is, “find something nice to say.” [...]
The reasons that people do not always live up to what they say are innumerable, and it could quite possibly cause insanity to figure them all out. Thus, it’s quite trivial and a tremendous waste of time to allow the hypocrisy of others to adversely affect us. If someone is constantly falling short, flaking out, disappointing, then the problem is not with them, it is with you. Thankfully there is a clear and reliable way to decipher intent and thus alter expectations so that they dwell in reality. [...]