Why You Should Never Assume Anything
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why You Should Never Assume Anything

Think before acting, from big decisions to first impressions.

1830
Why You Should Never Assume Anything
elitedkumar

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not perfect. And no one is perfect, and that is just a fact of life. One of the reasons I know I’m not perfect is the amount of times it appears I am being taught a lesson by life. The worst part about these lessons is they usually end up OK but the actions leading to the resolution make it a lot more complicated, awkward and guilt-ridden than they should have been. Lucky for me, I haven’t permanently messed anything up. Yet.

One thing I know I’m struggling with as I make the transition from child to adult is being aware of how my actions affect others. With things I know, like music or books, it’s easier to predict the outcome through prolonged experience; music follows chord progressions, genres follow basic story arcs. That is not so true in real life. Assuming one thing will not automatically guarantee it will work out. Not everyone in a situation is thinking the same thing.

Life does not flow simply from one place to the next. There are many, many choices involved, and a great deal of these deal with the idea of foresight. I’m really good at using hindsight to look back and think, “Oh, I messed up," but I’m not so good at looking at all aspects of a decision, plan or choice and choosing what will most likely allow me to succeed. I pick what makes sense in the moment. Maybe it’s an example of I don’t know what I don’t know (that has been happening a lot lately). But there are also the instances of things I should have asked, but didn’t. Should have looked for. Should have questioned. Should have planned. Should not have assumed.

The lesson of “never assume anything” can be applied to other places in life as well, not just big decisions. There is also the idea of a first impression, and what data we gather from a few seconds of interacting with a person. The human brain likes to categorize things so it makes sense that we jump to stereotypes with first impressions. However, one thing I think much of the world can learn is to keep our first impressions, especially negative ones, to ourselves. Don’t assume by the way a person speaks or dresses they live a certain way. Not every person living on the streets is a deadbeat. Not all members of a certain religion, political party, or organization share the same beliefs, especially the radical ones. Don’t let the mistakes of the few poison your view of the many.

I may have my methods of tackling a new piece of music, writing a story, or planning out a research paper or project and I accomplish these tasks well. But when it comes to real actions, I fall short. I suppose I could blame it on my nature. I don’t like asking questions, or possibly inconveniencing people, or confronting big things that will have impact on my life outside of the artistic fandom-based world I usually reside in. But I realize that admitting shortcomings is only the first step. The follow-through is harder: actually changing. And this is the same lesson to those out there who like to judge based on raw, few-second stereotypical impressions. Realize you do this, and work on changing. One small action by one person only brings us closer to a more peaceful world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
A man with a white beard and mustache wearing a hat

As any other person on this planet, it sometimes can be hard to find the good in things. However, as I have always tried my hardest to find happiness in any and every moment and just generally always try to find the best in every situation, I have realized that your own happiness is much more important than people often think. Finding the good in any situation can help you to find happiness in some of the simplest and unexpected places.

Keep Reading...Show less
A painting of the virgin Mary, the baby Jesus, and the wise men

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. Christmastime is a celebration, but have we forgotten what we are supposed to be celebrating? There is a reason the holiday is called Christmas. Not presentmas. Not Santamas. Not Swiftmas. Christmas.

boy standing in front of man wearing santa claus costume Photo by __ drz __ on Unsplash



What many people forget is that there is no Christmas without Christ. Not only is this a time to spend with your family and loved ones, it is a time to reflect on the blessings we have gotten from Jesus. After all, it is His birthday.


Keep Reading...Show less
Golden retriever sat on the sand with ocean in the background
Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore my dog. I am constantly talking about my love for her. I attribute many of my dog's amazing qualities to her breed. She is a purebred Golden Retriever, and because of this I am a self-proclaimed expert on why these are the best pets a family could have. Here are 11 reasons why Goldens are the undisputed best dog breed in the world.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Boyfriend's Christmas Wishlist: 23 Best Gift Ideas for Her

Here are the gifts I would like to ask my boyfriend for to make this season unforgettable.

89054
Young woman opening a Christmas gift

Recently, an article on Total Sorority Move called 23 Things My Boyfriend Better Not Get Me For Christmas, was going around on social media. I hope the author of this was kidding or using digital sarcasm, but I am still repulsed and shocked by the lack of appreciation throughout this article. I would like to represent the girlfriends out there who disagree with her standpoint -- the girlfriends who would be more than happy to receive any of these gifts from their boyfriends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Two teenage girls smiling

The 2000s were a time that many young adults today can look back on, joyfully reminisce and somewhat cringe at the trends and the fads that we all used to love and adore. Here's a list of things from the golden 2000s that will have one feeling nostalgic about all of those times.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments