Sometimes you just need to take a break. A short break. It can do wonders. I was recently trying to assemble a nightstand for my bedroom. No matter how closely I tried to follow the instructions, I just couldn’t get a few of the pieces to fit properly. After several attempts I got so frustrated I started yelling and stomping around the house.
My wife Sharon just smiled and told me to take a short break. Relax and forget about it for an hour or two. I took her advice. A few hours later I returned to the project, and amazingly, I got everything to fit properly right away. Easy peasy.
I’m not sure why this works. Maybe your mind and your eye-hand coordination work more efficiently when you are fresh and calm. The same probably applies in relationships. Before you say something you may regret to someone, take a break. Cool down. Back off.
Turns out building a relationship is not that different from building a nightstand.