My old default setting when curious what someone else was thinking was to think deeply about it myself. If I frowned and furrowed my forehead I found my thoughts were much more serious. They were not particularly accurate, let’s be clear about that, but they seemed more plausible for a few moments at least.
It takes a lot of concerted effort to ponder the unexpressed thoughts of others within in one’s head-space analyzing all the subtle clues and possibilities he, she, or they might be thinking.
I’m guessing you agree pondering the mental mysteries of other’s thoughts takes a lot of brain energy, and it’s why I am pro naps when I can sneak them in. It’s like analyzing the chess board of inter-relational possibilities to consider every possible move, followed by every possible and clever response I can come up with. Of course, this doesn’t work in real life. In fact I find all this mental gymnastics hampers free flowing friendly conversations where we actually permit others to share with us their thoughts as we reciprocate in kind. It’s called having a conversation.
Attempting to figure out what others are thinking in any way other than interacting with them directly is childish in my opinion. I mean by this, no matter one’s age, it is a hinderance to becoming a mature responsible adult human being. It is also attempting to play God.
The biggest reason this behavior is childish is because, no matter how smart I might be, I still do not have enough time or mental capacity to do this effectively, and live a reasonably normal life as well. It all has nothing to do with what God created me to do.
So the next time I am tempted to interpret the thoughts and intentions of someone else whether a soulmate or stranger, I will try to remember how it is to have pleasant conversations instead.
How to know what someone else is thinking?
Ask them questions and then don’t talk. Listen carefully to what they say.
It’s magic.