1 Simple Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Life!
Assume Nothing!
It is the nature of the human mind to analyze and jump to conclusions based on the information at hand. Our brains are always trying to categorize everything into safe little boxes. It’s one of our cool survival strategies, rooted deeply in our limbic brain.
Oh look! Saber-toothed Tiger! Dangerous… RUN!
The problem with that instinctive thinking process is that while it kept us alive-and-well all these years, it has a fault. Now-a-days the predators are less animalistic and far more insidious. They are more intellectual in nature. They are the assumptions and mistaken interpretations of our social interactions. We’ve all experienced it in one form or another.
Our reality is often skewed by our assumptions. Assumptions are dangerous, because generally they are not based on fact. They are simply based on our perception of fact. The dictionary defines “assume” as: to take for granted or without proof. It’s the “without proof” part that is tricky.
Assumptions have a time and a place. If you saw that sabre-toothed tiger, your assumption would be that it’d eat you, and historically, that would be correct. In the world of safety, I’d suggest that you listen to your reptilian brain which keeps you alive.
But when it comes to your relationships, and the people who are important in your life, it is vital that you get ALL the facts. They say that there are 3 sides to every story; your side, their side and the truth. The truth is the side which has all the information. It is the side which is stripped of assumptions. The only way to get to the truth is to find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Don’t hesitate to open up to the ones you care about, don’t leave them to make assumptions. With just this one single change you can completely transform your life!
Always assume the assumptions are wrong!
Unless of course, a sabre-tooth tiger is chasing you...