MAY 20, 2022
We all have a tendency in our lives to make assumptions about everything. We have all done it and sometimes, it will work against us. I know I have made the mistake of making assumptions about people and their abilities, thinking I recognized talent when they were only puffing up their resume’ to impress me. This harkens back to our old Band of Brothers axiom of “Know Thyself.” “Who are you” and “what is your end-game” are a couple of questions we deal with in our curriculum in helping our group understand along with being the best version of themselves. You need to know WHO you are before you can go tackling the world. However, don’t let that stop you from taking the next step because you had better be learning that you are on the right path, taking the right people with you, along with understanding your vision and end-game.
The problem with making assumptions is we believe they are the TRUTH. We could swear they are REAL. We make assumptions about what others are doing or thinking and “We take it personally.” (Something we all can work on)Then, we blame them and react by sending emotional poison with our words and our actions. While I think it is important to be curious, when we make assumptions we’re asking for problems unless we seek understanding rather than judgement. All of the sadness and drama in your life was rooted in making assumptions and taking things personally. (Life is not about you anyway so move on) We end up gossiping about our assumptions to others looking for approval and validation in our lives.
In any kind of relationship, we can make the assumption that others know what we think, and we don’t have to say what we want. We all have a need to justify everything, to explain and understand everything in order to feel safe and secure in this world. If others tell us something, we make assumptions, and if they don’t tell us something, we make assumptions to fulfill our need to know and to replace the need to communicate. That will be the beginning of many of your problems. We make assumptions that everyone sees life the way WE do. We make assumptions about ourselves which will create a lot of inner conflict if we don’t tell the truth. In other words, many of us are pretty good at lying about WHO we really are just to get ahead or win others over to our way of thinking. Then what? You overestimate yourself because you haven’t taken the time or had enough life experiences to ask yourself (Self reflecting and self-awareness) questions and to answer them. Perhaps you need to gather more facts. There are many personalities out there that might need to find out more facts about the situation or maybe you need to stop lying to yourself about what you truly want. Don’t become paralyzed with analysis because it will eat you alive.
The way to keep yourself from making too many assumptions in life is to ASK QUESTIONS. I like to use the old saying here of; “Question Authority.” Make sure the communication is clear. If you don’t understand, ASK. Find your voice to ask for what you want. Everybody has the right ask. Likewise, everybody has the right to ask YOU, and you have the right to say, “yes” or “no.” (Carnegie reminds us to; “Get them saying yes” if you want to take others with you in your journey of life.) Remember though, information or an idea is merely the seed in your mind. Make it the truth. Make it beautiful in your mind. Make it a good thought rather than an evil or revengeful thought. Then, what really makes the difference is your ACTION. Taking action over and over again strengthens your will, nurtures the seed, and establishes a solid foundation for the new habit to grow. Try practicing this new type of thinking as it just might change your life.
Follow us further in future Elevator Guy remarks as we guide you into “Knowing WHO you are.” God made you special for a reason. Find out and make a difference in someone else’s life. You will be the winner every time.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day; “Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong.” Albert Einstein