Waiting in Line: How my assumptions shaped my experience.
I found myself standing in line, growing increasingly frustrated and impatient.
The line seemed to be moving at a glacial pace, it felt like I was starring the movie The Survivor: Bank Edition, and I couldn’t help but wonder why it’s taking so long.
My assumptions about the situation shaped my experience more than I realized.
So, I was waiting in line at the bank to make a deposit.
As the line slowly inched forward, I started judging about the others waiting.
“That person is taking too long at the counter.”
“The teller seems inefficient today.”
My mind raced through those negative thoughts, and my mood became sour.
But my assumptions about the situation were skewing my perspective.
It turns out, the “slow” person at the counter was an elderly customer who needed a little extra time and assistance.
The “inefficient” teller was having problems with the computers.
My quick conclusions about the situation were inaccurate, and they shaped my experience and actions.
Our assumptions, often formed subconsciously, have a powerful influence on how we perceive the world around us.
When we stand in line, we make snap judgements about the people and processes involved, rarely considering the full context.
We assume the line is moving slowly because of incompetence or inefficiency, without pausing to consider other possible explanations.
These assumptions inform how we behave. We may become visibly frustrated, tapping our feet or sighing loudly.
We may even lash out at the teller or other customers, further exacerbating the tension in the situation.
But what if we challenged our assumptions and approached life with a more open and understanding mindset?
What if we took more time to understand the situation?
Instead of jumping to conclusions, we could take a deep breath and remind ourselves that there may be factors at play that we don’t fully understand or perceive.
Perhaps the bank is short-staffed due to an unexpected event, or the network is experiencing a temporary glitch (pretty common, where I’m at).
By being aware of our assumptions and consciously adjusting our perspective, we can transform our experiences.
Rather than letting frustration and impatience take over, we choose to approach the situation with empathy and patience.
This shift in mindset, will make you more self-aware.
Improve your mood and positively impact those around you.
