I like to be clear. Who doesn’t? Clarity is a form of kindness – or if you really want to fit it onto a coffee mug, “clear is kind“.

I find my lack of clarity in communication tends to correspond with a lack of empathy. If I really understood the perspective of the person I was communicating with, I’d understand what about my communication was lacking.

A lack of clarity can stem from fear, insincerity, or worse.

So, we’re all in agreement: we should be clear.

Where I’ve found myself getting stuck is in expecting clarity to mean simplicity, ease, or comfort. It don’t. Clarity and honesty can involve explaining how messy and complicated a situation is, or how you don’t know the right answer. As Rachel Smith sums up so well, the answer is often: it depends.

Clear communication doesn’t mean easy answers. Clarity is kindness, but so is honesty about when things are muddy.