“Unseen Consequences: 8 Common Phrases You Didn’t Know Were Hurting Others”
It promotes understanding, strengthens relationships, and better aligns our actions with our intentions.
5) “I was just joking”
We’ve all heard this before: someone makes a hurtful comment, sees your reaction, and quickly follows up with “I was just joking.”
I’ve been on the receiving end of this more times than I can count. And let me tell you, it never gets any easier.
The problem with this phrase is that it attempts to shift the blame from the speaker to the listener.
It sends a message that the issue isn’t with what was said, but with how it was received. It invalidates the feelings of the person who was hurt and dismisses the impact of the words used.
