As communication and language experts, we’re aware of the power of words. That’s exactly why manipulators use them so effectively. They know what to say, and when to say it, to get you to believe what they want.
But once you recognize the patterns, they’re much easier to spot. The key is knowing how to read — or listen — between the lines and recognizing that phrases that sound nice and innocent, even kind, are not that at all.
Here are seven common ones to watch for in both romantic and professional relationships.
There’s a “but” coming, and that’s the issue here. Manipulators use phrases like this as a fake apology — and they typically follow it up with a list of what you did wrong or why your perceptions are wrong.
It’s a combination of trivialization and gaslighting. You’re being told that your feelings aren’t important and that they’re also not valid.
