The Illusion of Assumptions

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how easily we assume things about others. We glance at someone’s life from the outside, hear a few words, notice a change in their routine, and suddenly, we think we know their story. But do we?

Most times, our assumptions are miles away from reality. We project our own perceptions, past experiences, or even our fears onto others—mistaking them for truth. We assume someone is struggling when they’re at peace, or that they’re lonely when they’re actually enjoying solitude. We assume they’re broken when they’re in the process of building something greater.

But here’s the thing: people are deeper than what meets the eye. Their silence isn’t always sadness, their growth isn’t always loud, and their strength doesn’t need validation.

Maybe it’s time we replace assumption with curiosity, judgment with understanding, and gossip with genuine connection. Because the truth? It’s rarely what we assume it to be.