Stinkin' Thinkin' Thursday : Mind Reading

Mind reading is described as a belief that you know what people are feeling and why they act the way they do without them saying so.  You believe you have certain knowledge about how people think and feel about you.  Not only do we think we know what people are thinking and feeling but we also think we can predict the future.  

These thoughts may sound like,
"He's just acting that way because he's jealous."
"She's afraid to show she cares."
"She thinks I'm really immature."
"He's always smiling but I know he doesn't like me."

Our intuitions, hunches, past experiences, and vague misgivings lead us to have certain assumptions about people and situations.  This typically leads people to feel misunderstood, unvalued, and can cause conflict where it doesn't need to be.  In order to avoid this, slow down and think about the facts.  Like the age old saying says, "Never assume.  It makes an ass of me and you."