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Life Tip: Challenge Your Assumptions

Are your windows on the world clear or clouded? Now, unless you are enlightened, they are probably clouded. Your windows are clouded because of your preconceived judgments. You develop judgments or frames of assumptions as a result of past experiences, conditionings and beliefs. Events in the past may be neutral but it is the meaning that you ascribe to them that determines your judgments or frames of assumptions.

Alan Ada Quote: Challenge Your Assumptions

“A peach is not its fuzz. A toad is not its warts. A person is not his or her crankiness. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won’t come in.”
– Alan Ada


Perceptual Filtering of the Mind

The mind receives information through your five senses. However, in order to cope and make sense of the massive amount of data coming in, various parts of the information becomes sorted, deleted and generalized. According to one estimate, incoming sensory information is reduced from 2,000,000 to 34 bits per second.

The filtered content forms your perceptions. As the first Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) presupposition calls it, it is your map of the world. You respond to the world by virtue of how you perceive things. More often than not, you respond by an immediate reaction as a result of the map you have created.

Your assumptions can prevent light from coming in. Problems are created when you believe that your map of the world is the only true reality. You cling on to it tightly, unable to see that there can be more than one way of perceiving things. Conflicts invariably arise when two parties stubbornly hold on to their maps of the world.

Challenging My Assumptions

Learning about the first NLP presupposition has been a life-changing one. It has enabled me to challenge my assumptions, beliefs and expectations. There has been tremendous benefits.

I become less critical in my inner commentary of the people and world around. Before making hasty judgments, I consider the possibility of not fully knowing the background of the other party. Compassion is also easier to access even when reasons behind an irrational behavior are not immediately clear to me.

What is perhaps empowering to realize is that I have the power to change the writings on my map. By changing it from “money is evil” to “money is a good friend” or from “the world is a landmine” to “the world is a friendly place”, I can start to attract a more positive reality for myself.

How to Challenge Your Assumptions

1. Understand that map is not the territory. NLP paves the way to transformation with its presupposition that “the map is not the territory”. In the first place, if you can understand that your mind filters information, then you will know that it is possible that your map may not be the entire truth. While the map can serve as a useful guide, you may have made the mistake of assuming that it accurately and completely represents the entire territory.

2. Take a step back to examine assumptions. You avoid jumping too quickly to conclusions by simply basing them on outward appearances. “A peach is not its fuzz. A toad is not its warts. A person is not his or her crankiness.” In other words, there can be much more than to things than meets the eye.

3. Understand that everyone’s map is just as valid. Since everyone experiences reality differently, then our maps can differ. So your map can be as right or wrong as another person. What helps in ending strife is to be able to see the other person’s perspective of the world using his or her map.

4. Consider upgrading maps. If your map has limiting beliefs, you may want to work on upgrading it to a more empowering one. You let go of parts that are no longer serving you. You learn to view the glass as half-full instead of half-empty. In time, your map of the world becomes a more expansive, loving and joyous.

Do Regular Housekeeping

It is dangerous to operate through clouded windows. Just imagine driving on a road. You may run into problems with the lack of clarity.

In plain terms, this means that you are unable to see reality as-it-is. Each new moment is a moment mired in your past. You sacrifice the building of genuine trust, love and support; when you refuse to let go of your assumptions. You sacrifice the essence of what you dearly wish for but can’t obtain because you refuse to do housekeeping work.

Alan Ada suggests that you “scrub them off once in a while or the light won’t come in.” By this, he means cleaning the lens – your windows – so that light can stream into the shadowed areas. You perform housekeeping duties regularly. Just like ordinary windows, the ones in your inner world need to be wiped, scrubbed and polished every now and then – for long-lasting shine 🙂

Share Your Thoughts and Assumptions

Do share your thoughts or if you have a tip on challenging pre-conceived and limiting assumptions in the comments below.

Abundance Always,

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Author. Adventurer. Life Artist. More About Me.

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Evelyn

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rob white - June 21, 2011 Reply

I love your ease and compassion, Evelyn. If our entire collection of beliefs inspired us to persist when aspiring higher and higher there would be no need to “scrub them off”, but this is rarely the case. Finding the truth about ourselves requires refusing the comfort of our usual assumptions.

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Evelyn Reply:

Thank you, Rob. I enjoyed your feedback too about refusing the comfort of our usual assumptions. Indeed, it takes courage to be in the space of discomfort while we challenge our perceptions. But this is when growth happens.

With love and light,
Evelyn

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jonathanfigaro Reply:

It takes time to find truth in who we are. Rob is very right about this. Truth is a pathless land. We must talk side by side with it. IF we are ever going to go somewhere in life.

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Maya @ Ms Buddha - June 21, 2011 Reply

This is what I call the judgmental and comparing mind. I learned to observe it (detach from it) with mindfulness meditation. It’s so liberating to be able to do that, and not be swept away by it, or as you say clouded. Well, I still do get caught up in it, but I notice much faster now…, sometimes after the fact, but that’s still better than being totally lost…, or worse even, defend judgments and assumptions. What can I say, it’s a process.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Maya,

Welcome to my site. Thank you about sharing the tip on using mindfulness meditation to simply observe.

It’s been the same for me too. I don’t succeed in catching myself in time for every situation. Still, on the whole, it’s much faster and enough to quieten the inner critical commentary that would have otherwise go on and on.

With metta,
Evelyn

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Andrew Olson - June 22, 2011 Reply

It is so interesting how your assumptions about life almost always become self fulfilling. Your deepest-held expectations or assumptions about life usually go unnoticed because life conforms them. The power is, like you said, when you can consciously choose to challenge your assumptions in a way that serves your best interest.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Andrew,

Our beliefs shape our outer reality, in other words. Oh yes, it’s always about asking what is in our best interest and the highest good of all. You’ve certainly brought up great points!!

Abundance always,
Evelyn

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Michele - June 22, 2011 Reply

Cleaning the lens can be a daunting task, because it forces us to examine what we’ve known our entire lives and change it. But once you’re up for the task, it can be a beautiful journey, and one I’m glad I took.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Michele,

I’m so glad to know that you’ve taken up the task of cleaning your lens. It’s not easy, I know but the rewards are plenty 🙂

With love,
Evelyn

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The Vizier - June 22, 2011 Reply

Hi Evelyn,

Assumptions can be dangerous if we do not manage it properly. By acting on false assumptions, instead of clarifying the facts, it is easy to get into a lot of needless problems. As you rightly point out, conflicts invariably arise when two parties stubbornly hold on to their maps of the world. Yet life is about perception. This means that the way we perceive something may not be entirely right. We might be looking at things from a bad angle. As such, it is a pleasure to read the list you have put together to help us to challenge our assumptions.

I feel that it is most important to understand that everyone’s map is just as valid. To fully understand a situation, we must try to see things from the other person’s point of view. Only when we have fully understood where they are coming from will we be less likely to make the wrong assumptions and judge them.

It also helps to take a bird’s eye view of things to help us to step back from a situation when we become too attached. Things that may seem very important to us might not have the same level of importance if we consider the 5 or 10 years view. Also if we compare it against our goals, we might just have a different perspective of its importance as well and may be less likely to act on assumptions.

Thank you for sharing this lovely article! 🙂

Irving the Vizier

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Irving,

It’s great that you feel that it is most important to understand that everyone’s map is just as valid. If more of us can see that, conflicts will reduce.

I enjoyed your tips on breaking free of our assumptions. Taking a bird’s eye view and comparing to our ultimate goals can help us with needed release.

Abundance always,
Evelyn

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arthur lau - June 23, 2011 Reply

Congratulation Evelyn, Excellent write-Up, Thanks for sharing

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Arthur,

Welcome to my site. Thank you for your kind feedback.

Abundance always,
Evelyn

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Monica | Authentic Abundance - June 23, 2011 Reply

I once had a prayer practice described to me as “wiping the steam off of the mirror.” I’m intrigued by the difference between looking into a mirror and looking out a window, as you describe it. It seems to me that somehow the process of seeing ourselves more clearly in the mirror helps us clean off the window, too.

I think one thing that is crucial to challenging our assumptions is surrounding ourselves with people we trust, but who don’t necessarily agree with us. A community like that can help each other grow.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hi Monica,

Welcome to my site. It’s nice to get connected with friends like yourself are like-minded.

Yes, the metaphors used are pretty much the same. We are to understand that our perceptions can be clouded and that it would help us with reviewing and challenging our assumptions.

Well said about surrounding ourselves with people we trust. There will be times when it appears that we are being challenged by them. The reality is that it is not about them, but more about our inner strife. If we can see that, we can foster much love and support; instead of blame and mistrust.

Abundance always,
Evelyn

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Angela Artemis/Poweredbyintuition - June 23, 2011 Reply

Evelyn,
This is a fantastic guide. NLP does sound life changing. When we become conscious enough to start looking at out thoughts objectively and then weed out the ones that no longer serve us – we are on the path toward enlightenment. I love the idea of “cleaning my windows” too!

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Angela,

NLP is certainly very useful. It helped me a lot in altering my perceptions. My intention is to walk each day, with a clearer perspective of the world.

Wishing you much love and light in your journey,
Evelyn

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Cristina | Positively Beauty - June 23, 2011 Reply

Thanks for your tips Evelyn, it’s good to be reminded that the map is not the territory, and that we can always change and improve our maps 🙂

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Cristina,

I’m happy to know that you enjoyed the reminder!!

With love,
Evelyn

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Keith - June 23, 2011 Reply

Evelyn,

What you discuss in this post is life changing information if one applies it. I’m deeply interested in NLP and how the mind works.

One of the most important things I learned in this process is to hold back my assumptions, judgements etc about others, knowing full well that, in most case, I do not have all the information. I am not fully aware of the other person’s map, nor are they mine, so compassion, understanding and patience are needed. How would the world change if most individuals followed this teaching?

Thank you for this valuable post Evelyn.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Keith,

I encourage you to pursue NLP, since you have indicated interest. It taught me a lot and offers me suitable frameworks for problem solving of real life situations.

It’s great that you’ve found the post helpful and have a takeaways from it!

All the best,
Evelyn

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John Sherry - June 24, 2011 Reply

I happen to think you’re 100% spot on here Evelyn – we need to continue to dump assumptions on a regular basis like we clean our house or our computer of old files. If we’re not up to date we could be living in a long held past and that’s not good for a positive future.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello John,

I like the metaphor of clearing old files and keeping ourselves updated! Thank you for your feedback.

With love,
Evelyn

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Galen Pearl - June 24, 2011 Reply

We were on the same wavelength, weren’t we?! Your post reminds me of the verse in the Bible–Now I see through a glass darkly…. Your analogy of the map/territory is great. Like the finger pointing at the moon is not the moon. You took the story I told and put it into a very informative and practical context. Thank you.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hi Galen,

We certainly are on the same wavelength. Whether from the Bible, Buddhist teachings or NLP, the teachings are one and the same.

I can’t recall which story you’ve told but I certainly wrote my post in the light of events on the personal front in the past one week. There was no opportunity to express my thoughts as the other party was not open for discussion. And hence, my post.

Hopefully, this post can help anyone who is in a conflict situation gain more clarity. If more of us can understand that “the map is not the territory”, conflicts can reduce.

With love,
Evelyn

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Galen Pearl Reply:

Oops where are my manners? I was referring to a comment you made on a story I told about judging someone and then seeing myself. Here is the link.

http://10stepstofindingyourhappyplace.blogspot.com/2011/06/mirror-mirror-on-wall.html?showComment=1308674333874#c4685543957089174834

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Galen,

No worries. Thanks for posting the link once again. I had been posting various comments on your posts that I could not quite remember which story you were referring to.

Thank you for the reminder once again about not judging others. It’s something that I need to be mindful of myself. I like constant reminders as I believe that it is possible to be a better version of myself each day.

With love,
Evelyn

David Stevens - June 24, 2011 Reply

Hi Evelyn,
Very nice post. We wouldn’t wear sunglasses at night, would we? The analogies are endless however “the message is clear”. Great work.
be good to yourself
David

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Evelyn Reply:

Hi David,

Glad that you are able to see “the message” LOL!

With love,
Evelyn

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J.D. Meier - June 24, 2011 Reply

Making your assumptions explicit and testing them is a great practice.

It’s something we get grilled on at Microsoft … we assert our assumptions and allow them to be inspected and tested from multiple perspectives.

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Evelyn Reply:

Hi J.D.,

Is it frightening to get “grilled”? I can see that if you test the assumptions from multiple perspectives, you are likely to end up with a better solution.

To your success,
Evelyn

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Antonia - June 26, 2011 Reply

Hi Evelyn,

What a wonderful post! Yes, challenging perceptions changes our lives. I like to think of my mind as a crawl (news feed) which needs to be watched. Who’s really in control? Oh, right, I am. Thus, it’s my responsibility to challenge my own ‘thinking’. 🙂

Love your suggested ways to do so, and the introduction to NLP!

Blessings,
Antonia

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Evelyn Reply:

Hello Antonia,

I enjoyed the way you’ve put it about your mind. Most certainly, it is our individual responsibility to take care of what goes in.

Thank you for your kind feedback 🙂

Abundance always,
Evelyn

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Mari - June 28, 2011 Reply

Hi Evelyn,

Youre right, our own assumptions clouds our thinking immensely.
I recently started this awful habit of entertaining my bad thoughts (usually scaring myself from darkness, being alone, etc…). I am hoping to get over this, do you have any other tips to help me?

Wonderful article. Thank you for inspiring me

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Evelyn Reply:

Hi Mari,

Yes, I have tons of tips to help in overcoming perceptions. Some, I have already shared in previous articles. It sounds like you need direct assistance, however. Do contact me if you need further help!

With love,
Evelyn

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Mary - March 15, 2012 Reply

This is great– thank you for sharing!

A tip I may offer may be found in an article published last November:

http://www.sopdigitaledition.com/archive/commonground1111/#/30/

Let me know your thoughts!

Warm regards,
Mary

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Th? gi?i trong m?t tôi | Hoàng Sa, Tr??ng Sa là máu th?t Ta! - June 3, 2014 Reply

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