Assumptions and their power- Good and Bad

We all make assumptions and form opinions about things each day - and from these assumptions we take action and make decisions.

Have you ever made an assumption about something that proved to be false? Have you ever made a false assumption that proved to be detrimental?
[Funny Illustration:]
One day while working in the oilfield we were “breaking out” and removing old, abandoned pipelines. These were old “flow lines” and “gas lines”. Natural gas has a tendency to dry out the threads of pipe and this, coupled with their age, make screwing the pipe apart very difficult. It was necessary to break the threads loose before screwing them apart with our pipe wrenches. This is done by striking the coupling a number of times with a 3 lb. hammer. The process of striking the coupling we called “warming it up”.
While beating on the coupling of one connection I heard a hissing sound. I assumed that I had broken another pipe lying directly beneath the one I was working on and there was gas leaking, thus making this hissing sound. So, in order to locate the problem I began to dig and poke and beat around on the
ground in the vicinity of the noise.
Much to my surprise, my assumptions were completely wrong. That hissing sound turned out to be the noise emanating from a bumble bee nest! You see, bumble bees nest underground.
Well, this nest of bees poured out of that small hole in the ground like a whirlwind and came after me with a vengence! At that time I had a large, scraggly, awful looking “afro” which those bees tried to light into. They chased me across the field and over the hill. When, after a few minutes I tried to return, they put me over the hill again! This happened not once, not twice but about three or four times. And, all the while, my co-workers were standing by laughing until the tears rolled down their cheeks. - [Larry L. Schoonover]
** Larry’s false assumptions were dangerous and led to a situation that could have been easily avoided and was totally unnecessary.

Sometimes the assumptions we make have devastating results don’t they? Therefore, we must be careful about the assumptions we make in life - especially the assumptions we make on each other.

I cannot tell you how many fights happen with Alicia and I because one of us assumed that the other would react a certain way to a situation. We would be sitting there arguing and then finally one of us would see that an assumption was made that was false. WHY DO WE DO THAT??????

I know some assumptions are made based on our own experiences in life…maybe your dad reacted certain ways so you think your husband will do the same…or perhaps your mom reacted in ways and you just knew your wife would react that way. Perhaps brothers or sisters or friends……

IT DOESN’T MATTER. WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT BE HELD TO OTHERS ASSUMPTIONS.

PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY THINK THROUGH SITUATIONS BEFORE GOING OFF ON EACH OTHER. ARE YOU ASSUMMING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE OR MAY NOT HAPPEN?

WHY FIGHT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO? WHY ASSUME THE WORST ALL THE TIME? STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is way too short to do this to each other. Look for ways to not be upset. Do not fall prey to fear. Fear is nothing more than interest paid on something you may never own….in other words 99% of what you fear doesn’t happen.

Stop fighting against the ones that have stood by you through it all. Love them…embrace them. They love you…perhaps that is way that did or said what they did…to help you. Do not cut off the arms that support you. Stop wearing your emotions on your sleeve…being driven like a leave in the wind. Grow up and mature. Wake up and embrace life. Seize each day. Let’s stop spending our time and energy on petty crap and enjoy life.