The Magic Closet

You walk into what looks like a closet, the door closes, and when it opens again, poof! You're in a completely different room. Sounds like magic, right? To our granddaughter, two-and-a-half-year-old Remi, that's exactly what riding an elevator is like. She steps in, the doors close, and boom – she's somewhere else. No ladders, no visible movement, just a sudden shift in reality.

And the most remarkable part? She doesn't care how it happens. She just accepts it, a delightful mystery unfolding before her eyes.

As adults, we often forget that what's obvious to us can be a complete enigma to someone else. Like Remi and the elevator, people around us — whether they're colleagues, friends, or family — may not possess the knowledge, experience, or emotional maturity to fully grasp what we're trying to communicate. We speak from our well of understanding, assuming our words land on fertile, equally informed ground. But often, there's a dangerous gap between what we say and what's truly comprehended.

This gap, if left unacknowledged, can lead to a cascade of problems: mistakes born from misinterpretation, simmering resentment when expectations aren't met, and crippling anxiety from a lack of clarity. Think of Remi, calmly accepting the elevator's magic. Now imagine if we expected her to understand the complex mechanics of hydraulics and counterweights. Her brain isn't ready for that.

The next time you find yourself frustrated that someone isn't "getting it," pause and consider their "elevator moment." Are you speaking to their current level of understanding, or are you assuming a baseline of knowledge, experience, or emotional readiness that simply isn't there?

The responsibility to bridge this gap falls to us. It demands a high level of self-awareness and a willingness to adapt our approach. Can you truly put yourself in their shoes and see the world, or your message, from their perspective? Because until we acknowledge and actively work to close this gap, our most well-intentioned words may just be baffling magic to those we're trying to reach.