# How to Communicate When Trust Is Low - charity.wtf Synced: [[2023_11_30]] 6:03 AM Last Highlighted: [[2023_09_26]] Tags: [[personal growth]] [[teams]]  ## Highlights [[2023_09_26]] [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hb7tb3pmjqa40158xsvhhkvv) > Firing off a reply while you are in fight-or-flight mode *reliably* leads to unintentional escalations. [[2023_09_26]] [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hb7tbhf43brcwwv1b6f04e5q) > If you need to take a few beats to read and process, *take the time*. But empty silence can also generate anxiety 🙂 so maybe say *something* to indicate “I’m listening, but I need a minute to absorb what you said”, or “I’m still processing”. (We often use “whoa…” as shorthand for this.) [[2023_09_26]] [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hb7tcxx9j35pcc8908pp9nkx) > Relationship experts say that there’s a magic ratio for happy, healthy relationships, which is at least **five positive interactions** for every **one negative interaction**. If you only interact with the people you have difficult relationships when you have something difficult to say, you are *always going to dread it*. Forever.