{"id":55358,"date":"2021-11-23T21:48:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T01:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=55358"},"modified":"2021-12-04T22:02:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T02:02:40","slug":"dont-make-assumptions-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/dont-make-assumptions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Make Assumptions: The Third Agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What does the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/dont-make-assumptions-third-agreement-of-four-agreements-by-don-ruiz\/\">third agreement<\/a> &#8220;don\u2019t make assumptions&#8221; actually mean? What difference could it make if you made this agreement with yourself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don Miguel Ruiz and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/don-jose-ruiz\/\">don Jose Ruiz<\/a>, in their book <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/fifth-agreement\/\">The Fifth Agreement<\/a><\/em>, discuss five &#8220;agreements&#8221; that you can make with yourself. These agreements affect your perspective of the world and how you fit into it. The third agreement is this: Don\u2019t make assumptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more to learn a healthy alternative to making assumptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Make Assumptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The third step in the Toltec path is to accept that you can\u2019t guess what someone else is thinking or what\u2019s going on in their life. This is essentially the second step in reverse. <strong>The naguals explain that your assumptions about another person\u2019s reasoning or behavior aren\u2019t based on what&#8217;s really going on with them, but on your (probably false) <em>perception<\/em> of them.<\/strong> Therefore, when you expect others to behave a certain way, you set yourself up for disappointment. The naguals\u2019 suggestion? To avoid disappointment and be happy socially, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/dont-make-assumptions\/\">don&#8217;t make assumptions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Shortform note: In his book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/talking-to-strangers\"><em>Talking to Strangers<\/em><\/a>, Malcolm Gladwell explains that while we think we\u2019re good at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-read-a-person\/\">reading people<\/a>, we\u2019re actually terrible at it. We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/talking-to-strangers\/part-2-3\">assume people are telling the truth<\/a> and that the way they present themselves outwardly is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/talking-to-strangers\/part-3-1\">an accurate and reliable representation of their inner feelings and intentions<\/a>. But don\u2019t we all occasionally hide our true feelings, tell half-truths, or mask our intent\u2014and haven\u2019t we gotten away with it? Why should others be any different?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Guesswork Leads to Conflict and Stress<\/strong><br><br>When we conflict with others, the naguals say, it\u2019s often because we make assumptions and create <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/impossible-expectations\/\">unrealistic expectations<\/a>. Parents and their children, for example, often argue because they live in different worlds\u2014kids see a reality that doesn\u2019t exist to their parents, and vice-versa. Both parties are stuck in their own subjective realities, and <strong>conflict results when they make assumptions about each other\u2019s circumstances.<\/strong><br><br><strong>Further, we often stress ourselves out by creating imaginary scenarios.<\/strong> If your husband is late coming home from work, you may try to explain why. Maybe he\u2019s been hurt, or he\u2019s cheating on you. Whatever story you come up with, it only exists in your mind\u2014but the fear, the anger, and the stress you feel are real. When he arrives and you realize nothing was wrong, your concerns feel silly\u2014perhaps even shameful. <strong>It\u2019s the assumptions that cause you pain, the authors say, so don\u2019t make assumptions.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Communicate Openly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Instead of making assumptions, the authors say, communicate openly with others.<\/strong> If you want to know why someone\u2019s doing what they\u2019re doing or you want someone to know why <em>you\u2019re<\/em> doing what you\u2019re doing, just talk to them. When you want something, communicate it clearly. According to the authors, open communication is the key to social happiness, since it\u2019s the only way we can learn others\u2019 realities and express our own. That\u2019s important, the naguals say because sharing our joys and experiences with others elevates their meaning and impact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>How to Communicate Openly<\/strong><br><br>In their book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/attached\"><em>Attached<\/em><\/a>, Amir Levine and Rachel Heller explain that when you communicate openly, you set a good example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/app\/book\/attached\/chapter-11\">encouraging openness and honesty in your relationships<\/a>. Like the naguals, they emphasize transparency and reciprocity: Openly give others what you want them to give you. When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-communicate-your-needs\/\">communicate your needs<\/a> and expectations directly and in a nonthreatening manner, you make it easy for others to understand what you want without forcing them into conflict.<br><br>As you communicate your needs, desires, and thoughts with others:<br><br><strong>Be brave and assertive.<\/strong> Don\u2019t apologize for feeling what you feel; summon your courage and speak openly. You\u2019re initiating the conversation because you feel your concerns are legitimate, even if the other person doesn\u2019t seem to agree.<br><br><strong>Focus your words on what you need or want.<\/strong> Use phrases like \u201cI need,\u201d \u201cI feel,\u201d and \u201cI want.\u201d For example: \u201cI know your work is important, but I\u2019ve been feeling lonely. I need more time and affection than you\u2019ve been giving me lately, and when you put your work first I worry you don\u2019t want me around as much as I want you.\u201d<br><br><strong>Use specific examples to illustrate your concerns.<\/strong> Be concrete; don\u2019t force the other party to make assumptions\u2014your goal is to avoid further misunderstandings.<br><br><strong>Avoid blaming, judging, or accusing.<\/strong> The goal isn\u2019t to make the other person feel inadequate\u2014it\u2019s to open a dialogue that improves the way you treat each other.<br><br><strong>Time your discussion for when both parties are calm and collected.<\/strong> If the situation is already volatile, let it simmer down so you can have an honest, forthright discussion.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When you follow the third agreement and don\u2019t make assumptions, you communicate and experience reality, which leads to greater joy and satisfaction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does the third agreement &#8220;don\u2019t make assumptions&#8221; actually mean? What difference could it make if you made this agreement with yourself? Don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz, in their book The Fifth Agreement, discuss five &#8220;agreements&#8221; that you can make with yourself. These agreements affect your perspective of the world and how you fit into it. The third agreement is this: Don\u2019t make assumptions. Read more to learn a healthy alternative to making assumptions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":55367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,6],"tags":[539],"class_list":["post-55358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-improvement","category-spiritual","tag-the-fifth-agreement","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Don\u2019t Make Assumptions: The Third Agreement - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does the third agreement &quot;don\u2019t make assumptions&quot; actually mean? 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