Word: Misunderstood
Definition: Incorrectly interpreted or perceived; not seen or valued for what one truly is.
Original Attempt (excerpt):
A police interrogation where the speaker says โNo,โ but the officer keeps twisting it.
Gap: This is a misunderstanding as miscommunication in facts, but the deeper meaning is about identity. Being misunderstood is not about the wrong alibi โ it is about the wrong story told about you.
Rewrite (embodied):
Being misunderstood is when you say, โI am tired,โ and someone hears, โI am lazy.โ When you laugh nervously, they think you are cruel. It is wearing a jumper because you are cold, and someone calls you unfashionable. Misunderstood is the ache of being known incorrectly by those you hoped would know you best.
Rewrite (visceral): Being misunderstood often feels like isolation, frustration, and self-doubt because others do not see or accept the true you, leading to feelings of loneliness, anger, and worthlessness. Experiences of invalidation, questioning your own feelings and perceptions, or a sense of being constantly judged can result in emotional pain, chronic stress, and a desire to withdraw or hide from others
Expansion:
Question:
What is one way you feel people consistently misunderstand you โ and what is the truth beneath it?
