Assume

Assume: To suppose without information.

Is this what you’re doing? is this what you have done every time you suppose without information? Or is this one of those words of power that we take for granted (no pun intended there).

Label

The word assume can be applied as a label to behavior. What makes it potentially dangerous and powerful is when it is applied to your behavior from an external source. Think about that.

Let’s talk about what assumptions really are, why they are a part of everyday life, just how emotional humans are, and what you can do about it,

Transcript

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Welcome Back & Intro to “Assume”

You’re listening to the Mark Bradford Alchemy for Life podcast.
If you assume… well, hey there, welcome back!
I hope you enjoyed the fora into a single word last episode, because we’re going to do it again. At least, I assume we are.

It’s about the word assume — one of those innocuous yet powerful words. It describes behavior and also defines it.

Most people know the phrase: If you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.
I want to tell you a joke about that at the end of the podcast that works every time.

Definition of Assume

The definition of assume is “to suppose without any proof.”
Funny, because no one really uses the word suppose anymore.
Webster’s Dictionary kind of replaces assume with suppose.

But is that really what assume means?
Are the times you assumed in life truly without proof?

The Reality of Assumptions in Life

Maybe in some cases, sure. But as we’ve discussed before, we only live in the very second right now.
We don’t know what will happen 30 minutes from now.
We can’t fully count on things, like the sun coming up or people behaving a certain way.

Assumptions About Human Behavior

We mostly assume human behavior, not physics or chemistry.
Human behavior is soft science, unpredictable and emotional.

You can assume your friend will be happy to talk at 9 a.m., but maybe they’re having a bad day.
You assume loved ones will handle a topic properly, but it might blow up because of nurture, nature, experiences, or their own assumptions.

The Necessity of Assuming

Assuming is a tool of sanity—we have to do it.

If you work at a busy factory, you might assume the boss will be stressed during the busiest weeks, but you still ask because you want to be sure.

The Confusion Around Assume

People use assume differently to serve their emotional outcomes.

• “I didn’t want to tell you because I assumed you’d get mad.”
• “Don’t assume things!”
• “But I thought you were going to do that.”

It’s a label, often with negative connotations, used to manipulate or criticize.

Examples of Labeling & Misunderstanding Assume

If you ask for a cup of coffee, the size depends on the place—someone else defines the word cup.
Same with assume: others define it and can label your behavior unfairly.

How to Handle Assumptions

There’s not much we can do except recognize assume is a label imposed by others.

We must use logic and avoid falling into traps like:
“I won’t tell this person because they might assume something.”

Be aware of pitfalls—not just on your part but how others weaponize the word.

Final Thoughts on Assume

This podcast is unusual but important because assume carries so much power.

Not when you use it logically, e.g., “I assume this is going to happen, so I plan accordingly.”
But when someone says, “Why did you assume that?” suddenly you’re being labeled.

The Joke: Ass + U + Me

The old phrase:
If you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.

Try this: say to someone, “If you assume, you make an ass out of you,” pointing at them, then pause.
Their lizard brain will complete the phrase out loud: “and me.”
Congrats—you just called them an ass.

Closing & Book Promotion

Thanks for listening.
I always enjoy your feedback.

The prequel to The Sword and the Sunflower duet, called Upside Down, is now available.
The Sword and the Sunflower is available as Kindle, paperback, and audiobook, with Amira and Upside Down available as Kindle and paperback.
Actually, all three books are now available in hardcover.

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