I did not realize that I had made assumptions about a project I recently took on until they did not materialize. I thought a bunch of people would want to be involved but it turns out they didn't. Having never actually asked them ahead of time, they didn't have a chance to weigh in either way. My bad. 

There is a book called the Four Agreements that I read years ago. One of the suggestions is to not make assumptions. The trouble is that assumptions slide in under the radar, and I don't recognize them as such until they have moved in and hung up their toothbrush. 

Another of the agreements is to not take things personally. This is cogent advice, and ridiculously hard to implement. When my kids make choices, it's about me. When John forgets to call, it's about me. When a friend cancels, it's about me. 

Egocentricity gets in the way of looking outward, and since its hunger for attention is unquenchable, there is never a point when we are satisfied. 

I look forward with anticipation to the time when assumptions do not have me by the neck, and my sense of self importance shrinks to a size that can fit through the eye of a needle.