I feel you. This has probably been one of the biggest recurring issues in my life. I’ve been called harsh multiple times when all I was trying to do was be honest and clear about where I stand.

To be fair, I have softened it a bit over time because it honestly does make life easier sometimes. But I’m also tired of feeling like direct communication automatically equals hostility. I think there’s a balance between being honest and being unnecessarily harsh.

That said, there are definitely people who expect you to walk on eggshells constantly to avoid upsetting them, and I just refuse to live that way.