We sprint toward conclusions like there’s a prize at the finish line. But those shortcuts are costing you everything.
↓ Scroll to discover why ↓
We live in a world that moves fast. Too fast. Fast enough that we don’t just jump to conclusions — we sprint toward them like there’s a prize at the finish line.
And most of the time, we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
Because assumptions don’t announce themselves. They whisper. They feel like intuition — familiar, certain, safe.
The Story Everyone Believed
Think about the old man with the shovel. The neighbor everyone avoided. Kids ran past him screaming. Someone told a ridiculous story about him, and suddenly it didn’t matter that it was nonsense — it became reality.
And everyone absorbed it. Not because they were cruel, but because fear is efficient and curiosity takes effort.
When was the last time you did that?
The Assumptions You Make Every Day
Click each card to reveal the truth you’re missing
When Assumptions Get Dangerous
In 2020, a Black birdwatcher was in Central Park, politely asking someone to leash their dog — as the rules required. But she assumed he was a threat. She called the police. And the world watched that assumption nearly destroy a man’s life.
Not because he did anything wrong — but because a stranger filled in the blanks with fear.
“Assumptions don’t just misunderstand people — they limit them. They flatten them. They erase entire stories.”
Or think about job applications. Two identical resumes. Same qualifications. Same experience. The only difference? One has a “white-sounding” name. The other doesn’t.
The one with the white-sounding name gets 50% more callbacks. Not because they’re more capable — but because someone assumed they were.
The Assumptions You Aim Inward
The worst assumptions aren’t about others — they’re about yourself. Tap to reveal the truth.
“I’m not smart enough”
tap to revealYou’re confusing unfamiliarity with inability. Every expert was once a beginner who didn’t quit.
“No one cares what I think”
tap to revealYou’re assuming rejection that hasn’t happened. Your voice matters to someone who needs to hear it.
“They’re probably judging me”
tap to revealMost people are too worried about their own perceived flaws to scrutinize yours. You’re not being watched as closely as you think.
“I’ll embarrass myself if I try”
tap to revealHow many dreams have died not from failure, but from imagined rejection? Test reality instead of accepting fear as fact.
The Science Behind Your Assumptions
Why Your Brain Loves Shortcuts
5 Steps to Stop Judging Before You Know
Click each step to expand
When your brain declares a story as fact, interrupt it. Ask: “What else could be true?” Say it out loud. Write it if you must. Replace the automatic narrative with curiosity.
Instead of “They’re rude,” try “I wonder what they’re carrying.” Curiosity builds bridges. Assumptions build walls. Choose the question over the verdict.
At work? Don’t assume expectations — clarify them. In relationships? Don’t assume feelings — ask about them. With yourself? Don’t assume limitations — test them. Communication prevents invented stories.
Pause before labeling someone. If you wouldn’t want to be defined by your worst moment — neither would they. Give people the grace of context and time.
For one week, write down every assumption you make about people. You’ll be shocked at how many were wrong. Awareness dissolves illusions. Track it, question it, correct it.
This Week’s Challenge
Choose one person — someone you’ve already written a story about — and get curious.
Ask one question. Start one conversation. Offer one chance.
Because you never know — your “scary neighbor” might be the person who shows up when you need help the most.
Assumptions build distance.
Curiosity builds connection.
Choose connection. Always.
