I'd like to invite you to try a little thought experiment. Do it for a day, a week, forever, however long you want.
The thought experiment is this:
Believe everything that anybody tells you.
That's it. Someone says something. Believe them.
Your three-year-old says he doesn't know where the wet, stinky, yellow stain on the couch came from? Believe him.
Your direct report says it's hard to be the only gay man on the team? Believe him.
Your teenage daughter says her boyfriend is a good guy? Believe her.
Your biologically male colleague says she feels like she's always been female and wants to change genders? Believe her.
Your neighbor says they didn't cause the dent in your car backing out of their driveway? Believe them.
Your Iraq War veteran colleague says his PTSD makes it hard for him to concentrate for long periods? Believe him.
Your partner says he's going to break it off if you don't change your ways? Believe him.
Your colleague says she was sexually harassed by your boss? Believer her.
The Black father whose unarmed son was shot and killed by the police tells the world he didn't deserve to die? Believe him.
You say to yourself you can intentionally stay present and nonjudgmental in any conversation?
Believe yourself.