It was the third day of a tradeshow when my colleague looked down at his pants and said with shock, “Wait! These are the wrong pants!”

He had inadvertently been wearing the pants from one suit and the jacket from another. For three days. Slightly different patterns. Slightly different colors.

Sometimes we just get dressed without thinking. We go about our business and we’re unaware of what doesn’t match.

This works as a metaphor, too. We put on generosity with a little hint of resentment. Or relaxation with some unchecked stress. Or we put on empathy without removing enough judgement.

Mismatches.

But sometimes we’re able to notice this about ourselves. We might even feel the surprise, as though we’ve just realized we’re wearing the wrong pants.