<p>When you make assumptions about others, you may wind up hurting someone else or missing out on a potential friendship. You may even wind up embarrassing yourself. Let's learn more about assumptions and why they're a problem.</p><h4>What Are Assumptions?</h4><p>An assumption is a thought or belief you have about someone without any proof of it being true. When you don't know the whole story, you often think the wrong things about people or see them in the wrong way. Let's look at some examples.</p><p>James makes an F on his reading test. Etta assumes that he isn't smart. What Etta doesn't know is that James is dyslexic. He has a learning disability that makes it challenging for him to read.</p><p>Lauren doesn't turn in her homework for a whole week. Jana assumes that Lauren doesn't care about school. Jana doesn't know that Lauren's mom is in the hospital and she's had to take care of her siblings all week.</p><h4>How Do Assumptions Influence Me?</h4><p>Assumptions influence how you see people and the world. Assumptions may make you treat someone unfairly or not give them the empathy they deserve. You may even miss out on making a new friend if you judge someone before you really know them.&nbsp;</p><h4>What Can I Do When People Make Assumptions About Me?</h4><p>Sometimes people may make assumptions about you. If the assumption is hurtful or prevents you from doing something you want to do, then you can correct them. While you may be angry, it's best to keep your cool and honestly explain the situation. If the person is really a friend and cares about you, they'll listen to what you have to say. Once they know the whole story, they'll probably change their mind about you.</p><p>If someone refuses to listen or continues to have negative assumptions about you, then you may have to evaluate your relationship with them.</p>