That Makes Sense

I heard a line this week while reading Morgan Housel that has stayed with me.

He was sharing something he learned from his brother, who had experience navigating life with children in the foster system. His brother once told him:

“All behavior makes sense with enough information.”

I don’t have much more to offer you this weekend other than a small practice—one that might create a little spaciousness, maybe even empathy, and hopefully compassion.

When the gossip begins, when the ego plants its flag of right and wrong, or when you find yourself completely bewildered by the way a person—or an entire group of people—thinks or behaves, try asking yourself one question:

Could their actions and decisions make more sense if I had more information?

Maybe there’s a story I don’t know.

A wound I can’t see.

A fear they’ve never named.

An experience I’ve never had.

A piece of information that would make me say, Ah. That makes sense.

This doesn’t justify harmful behavior. It doesn’t make everything acceptable, and it certainly doesn’t mean we abandon discernment or boundaries.

But it might loosen our grip just enough to trade judgment for curiosity.

And curiosity, I’m learning, leaves a little more room for compassion.

Just a thought.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Ashton