Your assumptions are your windows on the world

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.”

—Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction Writer

Image of "The Four Agreements" book cover

Have you every read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz? If not, please order a copy today.

The third agreement in this masterpiece is “Don’t Make Assumptions.”

Unfortunately, we all tend to make assumptions about everything and everybody. This is often the root of much dysfunction, chaos, and general unhappiness in our world.

EXERCISE:

Where would greater openness and clarification of issues, personally or professionally, let more light in so you could lead a more fulfilling and satisfying life?

“A bad attitude is like…”

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you fix it.”

— Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Paul Chenoweth

Photo from Flickr by Paul Chenoweth

A not-so-funny thing happens when we have a bad attitude.  People will avoid us. If they can’t avoid us, they will eventually begin to judge and criticize us—which is, in some regards, our bad attitude rubbing off on them, and a “flat tire” in our lives and relationships.

The good news is that we can control our perspectives and perceptions, inflate our view of the world with a brighter outlook, and move forward with others who want to ride along.

EXERCISE:

Ask at least one person in your professional life and one person in your personal life for coaching about the fullness or flatness of your attitude. Explore with them what modifications or adjustments would make the biggest difference, and promise to change with their support.

Another possibility would be to offer feedback and coaching, if requested, to others who would like to make adjustments in their own lives.

Feel free to reply to this post and let me know what happens.