When you sense disapproval from someone you can't confront directly, assume they're having a bad day and respond with warmth anyway. If it's their mood, they'll appreciate the kindness. If it's actually about you, compassion can break the negativity.
When you think you saw a sign of disapproval or a negative sign and there's nothing you can really do about it, like you're in a professional setting or you're speaking or you're presenting or you just can't address it, tell yourself they are having a bad day and they need compassion. Because if you think, ugh, it's about me, it will only make you worse. First of all, there's nothing you can do in that moment. But if you're like assuming they're going through something, and I do believe oftentimes it is usually about the person, less about you, not always, but it can be. If you tell yourself they are having a bad day, they are having a moment, they are going through something, I need to show them compassion, two things will either happen. One, it's true, it was about them, they were having a bad day and they are really grateful for the compassion, the kindness, the warmth that you're gonna give them. Or two, it was about you, but you meeting that disapproval with warmth and compassion and trust breaks down the disapproval. So either way, that approach works. So warmth is your answer, compassion is your answer. Mm-hmm.
