We like to give ourselves credit for meaning well. “I was only trying to help.” “I just wanted to make things better.” “I didn’t mean for it to come off that way.” These are common responses when someone points out that our actions had a negative effect. And while it is fair to want grace, it is also fair for others to want change.
Just because you did not mean to hurt someone does not mean they were not hurt. Just because you thought you were helping does not mean it felt helpful. Intention and impact are not always aligned. And clinging too tightly to your intentions can make it harder to hear what is actually being said.
Being a well-meaning person is not a free pass. You still have to be accountable, you still have to listen, you still have to be willing to adjust. That is what makes you trustworthy. Not that you always get it right, but that you are willing to reflect when you do not.