How to stop making assumptions? Don’t. Do this instead.
Misha Zhuro
Assumption – something you accept as true without proof.
When I saw a few hundred monthly queries on how to stop making assumptions in Google, it made me wonder. As a human you heavily rely on assumptions to process information and make decisions. Assumptions allow you to fill in gaps, make quick judgments, and act efficiently without constantly re-evaluating every situation. They're an evolved shortcut that helps you interpret vast amounts of information rapidly and make predictions based on past experiences…
So why would you want to get rid of something so fundamentally human?
You assume that the sun will rise tomorrow based on consistent past experiences, and make social assumptions (like trusting certain people) based on learned behavior. Removing assumptions would add a layer of complexity forcing you to analyze every decision and interaction from scratch. Without assumptions, you’d need to constantly verify basic facts and intentions, which would slow down your ability to respond effectively, make quick choices, or rely on routines.
Yes, this hyper-analytic approach might reduce misunderstandings, but it would also make life cumbersome, ruthlessly draining mental energy and making it harder to navigate familiar situations efficiently.
There is nothing inherently wrong with making assumptions. The real issue lies in biases and inaccuracies that assumptions are prone to.
Assumptions can become problematic when they’re based on stereotypes, unfounded beliefs, or outdated information, leading to misunderstandings, poor decisions, and conflicts.
How to stop making assumptions that backfire
Assumptions span a wide spectrum – from the smallest, nearly unconscious beliefs to significant, guiding ideas that shape entire frameworks of thought. Rather than eliminating these assumptions, you can improve their quality by applying the Thinking protocol and its algorithms, such as T1 OJEC algorithm – Observe, Assess, Evaluate, Conclude.
T1 OJEC algorithm
1. Observe
To observe is to be able to notice and register what’s directly in front of you —people, objects, or animals, and their state in that exact moment. It’s purely about what you see without interpretation or judgment. For example:
A dog is sitting by the door.
A car is moving down the road.
Sarah has her arms crossed and is frowning
To observe is to simply capture the facts of what’s physically there, without any added meaning or analysis. Observation is almost entirely non-verbal, a straightforward intake of sensory information that forms the raw building blocks for deeper thinking. It’s absolutely critical, anchoring thought in reality; yet humans often skip this step, rushing into judgment or interpretation without first seeing what’s truly there.
Pause, and notice everything as it is – no labels, no judgments. Just observe.
2. Assess
Observation is simply seeing what’s in front of you—nothing more. Assessment, however, goes further: it adds meaning, interpreting relationships and distinguishing between subjects (those with will and consciousness) and objects (things without them).
Observation: A dog is sitting by the door.
Assessment: The dog is waiting for its owner.
Observation: A car is moving down the road.
Assessment: A car is speeding down the road.
Observation: Sarah has her arms crossed and is frowning.
Assessment: Sarah is annoyed.
In everyday life instead of focusing on pure facts, humans often skip directly to assigning meaning. For example, rather than saying, "Sarah is typing on her phone" (an observation), people jump to, "Sarah is ignoring me" (an assessment). The first simply describes what’s happening, while the second interprets her actions without confirming the facts.
To think more clearly and accurately, you need to separate observation from assessment. Observations describe what you see, while assessments give meaning to those actions. Typically, several observations lead to a single assessment, and multiple assessments form an evaluation.
Pause and question the meaning you’re assigning—separate what you see from what you interpret.