Playing the Cards We Think We’ve Been Dealt
Life isn’t about the cards we’re holding—it’s about the cards we think we’re holding.
Every choice we make, every word we speak, every reaction we have—it all comes from how we see the hand we believe we’ve been dealt. If someone snaps at you, ignores your advice, or makes a decision you can’t understand, it’s not because they’re irrational or careless. It's because that's how they are viewing their world in that moment.
We are all playing the game of life based on the cards that seem real to us.
But here’s the thing: those cards don’t always reflect reality. Perception can be distorted by fear, stress, or even a fleeting thought. A hand that looks like a royal flush to one person might feel like a losing deck to another. We act not from the actual cards, but from the story we’re telling ourselves about them.
When we see this, judgment begins to dissolve. That rude cashier? Maybe their cards include exhaustion and worry. Your friend who keeps canceling plans? Maybe their cards look heavier than you realize. Instead of blaming, you can step back and wonder: what cards do they think they’re holding?
This doesn’t mean excusing everything—it means understanding. And understanding changes everything. It softens interactions, invites curiosity, and creates space for connection.
We’re all doing the best we can with the cards we perceive. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is remember that perception isn’t always clear. What would shift if we gave others—and ourselves—a little grace in the game of life?