Assuming Positive Intent

Unique Perspectives: Assuming Positive Intent

By Kim Stevens

Assume Positive Intent.

Have you seen this floating around on social media? Assume positive intent. I’ve been seeing it everywhere lately, and honestly… I absolutely love it.

For so many reasons. Not the least of which is: this is exactly how I want to be treated in my relationships and interactions. And if there’s one thing I know for sure… it’s that we rarely receive what we aren’t willing to give.

When I approach an interaction from the belief that the other person means well—even if we disagree—I instantly feel more open, more grounded, more willing to explore possibilities I wouldn’t have seen if I had defaulted to suspicion or negative intent. My whole inner landscape softens. I speak more gently. I respond more kindly. And I really love that version of me… so much better than the suspicious side eye version ;)

Assuming positive intent turns me into a better listener, a better question-asker, a better solution-finder. It’s like widening my field of vision. Suddenly, there are options. There are bridges. There are ways forward.

But here’s where this gets interesting… This idea isn’t just about navigating relationships with other humans. It’s about how we relate to life itself.

Imagine—just play with it for a moment—that everything showing up in your life has a positive intent baked into it. That the Universe (or God, Spirit, Life… choose your word) is not working against you, but is actually on your side. Always.

I talk about this a lot, because I’ve made a conscious decision to live that way. I’ve decided to believe everything is a miracle, that all is well, and that when something doesn’t look that way in the moment… It's usually my lenses that need adjusting.

That’s when I can reach for my “assume positive intent” glasses.

Because when I slip those on, the world softens. People soften. And more importantly I soften. Opportunities reveal themselves. And suddenly… there it is again. A friendly Universe. A kinder interpretation. A more generous way to see.

When I choose to assume positive intent, life just feels a little easier. Conversations feel a little lighter. I’m less on guard, less reactive, more willing to give people (and myself) a little grace. And that, I’ll take every time.