You don’t know everything about any one person. At best, you might know yourself. You might even have a pretty good idea about your closest friends, but not everything.

Everything else is based on assumptions formed from prior observation and cultural stereotypes.

It’s not wrong to have these assumptions — we’re wired to fill in the blanks the best we can. But it can be problematic when we judge someone based on them.

The problem is that society and media paint an image of who people are. Picture a construction worker, imagine what they look like, how intelligent they are, what kind of vehicle they drive, whether they read books, and what kind of movies they enjoy.

Do the same for a lawyer, a doctor, and a coffee shop barista.

There’s a high probability that you pictured the same thing as most people — at least those in your country.

I’ve been trying to catch myself making these assumptions lately, and I’m blown away by how wrong I often am.

Our assumptions are wildly skewed, the reality is far more complex.