“Don’t Make Assumptions” - Don Miguel Ruiz
We have the tendency to make assumptions about everything. ... We make assumptions about what others
are doing or thinking – we take it personally – then we blame them and react by sending out emotional
poison with our word. That’s why whenever we make assumptions, we’re asking for problems. …
All the sadness and drama you have lived in your life was rooted in making assumptions and taking things
personally. Take a moment to consider the truth of this statement. ...
We create a lot of emotional poison just by making assumptions and taking it personally, because usually
we start gossiping about our assumptions. Remember, gossiping is the way we … transfer poison to one
another. Because we are afraid to ask for clarification, we make assumptions, and believe we are right
about the assumptions; then we defend our assumptions and try to make someone else wrong.
We also make assumptions about ourselves, and this creates a lot of inner conflict. “I think I am able to
do this.” You make this assumption, for instance, then you discover you aren’t able to do it. You
overestimate or underestimate yourself because you haven’t taken the time to ask yourself questions and
to answer them. ….
The way to keep yourself from making assumptions is to ask questions. .. If you don’t understand, ask.
Have the courage to ask questions until you are clear as you can be, and even then do not assume that you
know all there is to know about a given situation. ….