Mentalizing words

When I'm mentalizing, I’m talking (or thinking) like this: 

  • Hmm.. 

  • Might... 

  • Maybe... 

  • What if...  

  • I wonder what’s was going on for him when he did that? 

  • I’m not following. Help me understand...  

  • I could be wrong... 

  • Do you see it differently? 

  • Have I got that right? What have I missed? 

  • I don’t think I get what you mean... 

  • I wondered if... 

  • I don’t know, but it seems like... 

  • I can't know exactly how that feels for you, but I imagine I might feel.. 

  • I feel quite certain that I know what you feel, but that makes me think I should question this certainty. I've often been wrong before, so... 

 

 

 

When I’m not mentalizing, I’m talking (or thinking like this) 

  • You are just... 

  • I just know…

  • You’re definitely...  

  • She always... 

  • He never... 

  • Everyone thinks... 

  • We all feel the same.... 

  • Anyone in that situation would do exactly the same...  

  • Women will always try to… / boys are just… / children always want to… / all teachers are… / americans are just like that... / generalizing whole groups of people (if we were mentalizing, instead, we’d be trying to understand this individual, in this particular moment)