Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means recognizing that our understanding of a situation or an interaction may not be complete and that there may be other perspectives or factors at play that we are not aware of. It means being open to the possibility that our own biases and preconceptions may be preventing us from seeing the full picture. It means being willing to reframe the stories we tell ourselves about others and to take ownership of our own feelings and actions, rather than reacting to the situation in a negative way. It means setting clear boundaries to protect our well-being and self-respect, while still being open to understanding and repairing relationships.