Thanks, but no, you don't.
Yesterday I almost told someone, "I know how you feel." But I stopped myself.
I really do almost know how this person feels. We have comparable backgrounds, and have been through similar events. I can relate to what this person might be feeling.
But we are not the same person. We have distinct lives and experiences, different beliefs and thoughts.
It seems that when someone says, "I know how you feel," the conversation somehow shifts to them, even if unintentionally and just for a moment. That sentence is often followed by, "One time I..." or "The same thing happened to me and..." or "I know when I went through that..."
I realize you probably mean well. But you know what? I didn't ask (or even imply) that I wanted you to share your story. These are my feelings. They are right for me no matter what you've felt.
You can tell me how you feel. And I'll try to understand to the best of my ability. But I know that my understanding is from my individual point of view. I'm not in your head or in your heart.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful. I appreciate that you acknowledge I might be sad or happy, angry or confused. But it's not humanly possible that you really know how I feel.
You know how you feel. I know how I feel. And though I want to share your feelings as much as I can, please know...I know that you feel.
Yesterday I almost told someone, "I know how you feel." But I stopped myself.
I really do almost know how this person feels. We have comparable backgrounds, and have been through similar events. I can relate to what this person might be feeling.
But we are not the same person. We have distinct lives and experiences, different beliefs and thoughts.
It seems that when someone says, "I know how you feel," the conversation somehow shifts to them, even if unintentionally and just for a moment. That sentence is often followed by, "One time I..." or "The same thing happened to me and..." or "I know when I went through that..."
I realize you probably mean well. But you know what? I didn't ask (or even imply) that I wanted you to share your story. These are my feelings. They are right for me no matter what you've felt.
You can tell me how you feel. And I'll try to understand to the best of my ability. But I know that my understanding is from my individual point of view. I'm not in your head or in your heart.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful. I appreciate that you acknowledge I might be sad or happy, angry or confused. But it's not humanly possible that you really know how I feel.
You know how you feel. I know how I feel. And though I want to share your feelings as much as I can, please know...I know that you feel.
