The unwritten rules decoder: free template

The worksheet

Name

Date

How to use it

Write the phrase exactly as you heard it, with where and when.
Give it a generous reading and a cautious one. Both can be true.
Decide one thing you’ll do, and who you could ask if you’re still unsure.

Fill it in here or on paper. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere: it stays in this browser tab and disappears when you close it, so print or save it as a PDF to keep a copy.

Phrases to decode

Phrase 1

The phrase, word for word

Where, when, and who said it

The generous reading: what it might mean

The cautious reading: what else it could mean

What I’ll do next, and by when

Someone I trust who could help me read it

Phrase 2

The phrase, word for word

Where, when, and who said it

The generous reading: what it might mean

The cautious reading: what else it could mean

What I’ll do next, and by when

Someone I trust who could help me read it

Phrase 3

The phrase, word for word

Where, when, and who said it

The generous reading: what it might mean

The cautious reading: what else it could mean

What I’ll do next, and by when

Someone I trust who could help me read it

Patterns

After a few phrases, look across them.

What am I noticing about how things really work here?

A note on these templates. They’re prompts for reflection and planning, not assessments, and not therapy, medical or financial advice. Keep anything confidential, like colleagues’ names, somewhere private.

Want to talk it through?

Bring what you’ve written to a free 30-minute discovery call, online. We’ll look at it together and work out a sensible next step. There’s no obligation to go further.