Hi! I’m Ashley Mays. The following post first appeared in my monthly newsletter, Inbox Confetti. It’s a celebration of strength, dignity, and laughter for your inbox. Subscribe to join the celebration!
For my day job, I work with design programs like Photoshop. In these programs, we work in layers. When I first started design work, I flattened (or merged) my layers. To me, it seemed easier to manage when there was only one layer to look at.
But flattening layers isn’t always a great choice. When everything has been combined into a single layer, it’s harder to work with. It’s more difficult to go back when you’ve made a mistake. Sometimes clarity is lost.
We can be tempted to approach people, or even tough issues, the same way I used to approach my Photoshop layers: we think they’re easier to deal with if we flatten them. Forget the complexity. Ignore the nuance. Flatten it all in an attempt to make the conversation feel easier.
In reality, authentic relationships are born and true progress is made when we consider the layers.
Love always.
Author Ashley Mays writes contemporary fiction for fierce young women of faith. Her mom was a librarian, so she literally grew up surrounded by books and creativity. Want to know more? Sign up to receive Inbox Confetti, follow her on Instagram, or send her a note if you have something to share.