On Assumptions

When you start treating assumptions as fact, you begin the path to the dark side.

Holding fast to them, despite data to the contrary, will solidify your place in the world and lock you into mediocrity.

Challenging your assumptions is difficult — challenging others’ will produce defensiveness. Why we protect these assumptions makes no sense, but we do it.

You can start addressing this problem by changing your language. For example, instead of:

Nobody cares about the power that can be found in treating all your beliefs as assumptions.

You might say:

I assume nobody cares about the power that can be found in treating all your beliefs as assumptions. Why? Because people generally don’t listen when I bring it up. Though that could be just bad timing on my part, or the Medium isn’t the best place for the message, or the person just isn’t ready.

Try it out. Challenge your assumptions. Bring them out from the darkness and see how they hold up to the light.

I assume it’ll be powerful.