ASSUME - What’s In A Word?

15/02/2008 by Ellie at TFP.

Some words break down to reveal a hidden meaning.

For example there is a hidden “Ass” in the word assume.

Assume => ass-u-me

I think this is a brilliant breakdown of the word! We frequently say Oh I assumed you meant …….. or I assumed you wanted me to do…….. or I assumed you had done it……… We say this so often and then we try to put the blame on the other person when there has been a mix-up. Or we get upset because the other person is not ‘grateful’ when we have done something without checking it out first.

One important rule of compassionate communication is to check things out ; get clarity: don’t assume! When we ‘assume’ we can actually behave like an ass.

This can be particularly evident with children: as parents we ‘assume’ we know what is ‘for the best’ for our children. We interfere without consultation. My son will say to me ‘Don’t assume!’ when I have done something to be ‘helpful’. This jumping in to be helpful causes many arguments between parents and children, especially teenagers. They are fighting for their autonomy and we as parents constantly assume we know what they want without properly hearing their requests.

So don’t you be the ‘ass’ in assume. Instead be clear what it is you want to achieve and check out the situation with those around you before you ‘ass-u-me’.

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