Hanlon’s Razor: It’s Probably Not About You

We’ve all done it — assumed the worst about someone else’s actions.

The colleague who doesn’t reply, the driver who cuts across, the friend who forgets. It’s easy to think they meant to hurt or ignore us. But what if most of it isn’t personal at all?

This week, Michael Comyn explores Hanlon’s Razor, the simple rule that reminds us not to attribute to malice what can be explained by misunderstanding, distraction, or human error. Drawing on Stoic wisdom, emotional intelligence, and his own experience in live broadcasting, Michael reflects on how quickly we fill in the blanks with blame, and how we can learn to pause instead.

Discover how applying this principle can reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and even soften the way you treat yourself.

Most of the time, it’s not about bad intent, but rather imperfect communication.