I know you’ve been there...
You’ve scrolled through social media, seen someone’s highlight reel, and assumed their life was perfect.
Or maybe a friend seemed short with you, and you instantly jumped to conclusions, convinced they were upset or angry.
It’s easy and human to assume we know someone’s full story from just one brief snapshot of their day.
I recently came across a powerful illustration that changed the way I think about assumptions in relationships.
Imagine someone's day represented by a series of circles. You see only one circle, brightly filled; maybe it's a smiling photo online, an uplifting message, or a cheerful conversation.
Instantly, you assume every other circle of their day must look the same: happy, smooth, and perfectly put together.
But the rest of those circles—the majority of their day—rarely match what you assume. They're often messy, complicated, partly empty, or filled with struggles you'll never know about.
Termites are small, quiet, and unnoticed at first, yet incredibly destructive if left unchecked. They quietly weaken the structure of even the strongest building until it collapses.
Similarly, assumptions quietly eat away at your relationships, weakening bonds, creating misunderstandings, and sabotaging connection and trust.
Proverbs 18:2 captures this truth perfectly: “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
Every time we make assumptions, we choose opinion over understanding and judgment over connection.
Instead of assuming, take a different approach:
Pause before you conclude.
Ask before you judge.
Choose empathy rather than suspicion.
This intentional shift from assumptions to empathy can transform your relationships, save your friendships, and deepen the connections you value most.
Remember, assumptions may feel harmless at first, but over time, they cost you far more than you realize.
