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Are Your Assumptions Limiting Your Possibilities?

Guest post by: Margie Warrell

Article Overview: You (and I) make assumptions many times each day. Even though some of them may be backed by factual science, most of the time, those assumptions are just plain wrong. Don\'t let your assumptions limit your possibilities.

Are Your Assumptions Limiting Your Possibilities?

\"Assumptions are the death of possibilities.\" James Mapes Humans can\'t fly to the moon.

The human body can\'t run a mile under 4 minutes.

Women are too emotional to be leaders.

The sun revolves around the earth (which is flat).

Telephones are only for talking and listening.

Animal species never change.

Black people are inferior to white people.

I (Margie) can never run 10 miles. Never ever.

Some of these assumptions had the force of science behind them while others had just the force of habit. All of them seem ridiculous in retrospect.

And the only reason any of them collapsed was because someone had the courage to challenge to the status quo; to push back on \"the truth\", to part with tradition and to ask questions about why things are the way they are, and how they might be instead.

Courageous thinking, from Martin Luther King\'s calls for justice to Henry David Thoreau\'s blunt naturalism, involves risk. It can make people very uncomfortable, invite criticism (if not outright ostracism) and at minimum, be unsettling for all those firmly attached to their way of viewing the world. But, courageous thinking is also what propels our lives, and our society, forward.

Earlier this year I did a 10-mile run. Up until I began training a couple months earlier, I\'d never run more than 3 miles (and that was only once!) I just didn\'t think my body was made for running, but I was willing to try to prove myself wrong; and alas, I certainly did. Next goal: half marathon!

Sometimes when we think outside the box, we get it wrong. Sometimes when we take risks, we fail. And sometimes, despite our very best efforts to achieve an outcome, we fall short. But that doesn\'t mean we shouldn\'t continue to try. What matters most is that we work to embody the kind of courage that stirs the spirit and inspires us to think bigger about what is possible, and to inspire others to do the same.

In the last few weeks, I\'ve experienced a hurricane, an earthquake and, yesterday, flash flooding. I have no idea why. But what I do know is that the world is far more mysterious than I will ever be able to understand and that to live life fully, we need to embrace a sense of curiosity, adventure and never stop asking questions and challenging assumptions.

So, what assumptions are you going to challenge about your life this weekend?!

Be bold -- your life will shrink or expand in proportion to your willingness to challenge what\'s possible! What have you learnt is possible for you? Share your comment with friends and family; you very well may inspire them beyond belief!

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Article Tags: assumptions, be bold, challenging assumptions, courage, courageous thinking, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, possibilities, status quo



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Re: your personality type? - Hi Michelle! If you are the present-moment focused, this is your result. If it doesn't seem spot on, I'll give you the big-picture focused result. The Enjoyer of Life. You enthusiastically enjoy experiencing the five senses, creative pursuits and social harmony in the here-and-now. You are independent, socially upbeat, and enjoy creating a positive and happy atmosphere. Despite your outgoing “persona,” you are a private person and few people truly know you well). #1 Strength: Comfort Creator #2 Strength: Expressing Social Feeling 1) Comfort Creator -- Creating a comfortable physical environment. Feels the ?ve senses vividly. Adept at using objects, or ?nding or building objects, to make a physical space the most soothing to all ?ve senses. Also organizing so objects are easily found in a convenient way. Both the physical comfort of self, and others, is important. Often feel a need to ensure those close to them are warm enough, fed, rested, etc. Will easily offer help to others in these areas, lending a jacket, or offering a snack. 2) Expressing Social Feeling Setting an emotional tone, vibrant, energetic, or serious, etc. Concerned with the emotional environment as it?s happening -- the vibe of people at a party, the tone of a situation, other people?s responses. Setting the tone -- dramatic and serious, or lighthearted and a celebration. Emotional displays are important for knowing how others are feeling, whether bad or good. Someone talking in a monotone about feelings seems insincere. Feels should be shown, so they can be read by others. Your best type would be: The Conceptualizer. You are an inventive creator of logical systems of possibilities that you use to create processes, products or strategies. Socially, you are sometimes quiet, but also find yourself acting as the life of the party, especially when you get caught up in a debate or entertaining topic of conversation. #1 Strength: Generating Future Possibilities #2 Strength: Systematic/Rule Logic


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