Planning for Your Best Year Ever in 2027
The Pre-Planning Phase
–A Four-Part Series based on The Four Agreements–
Part Three
by
Bob Marshall
November 10th, 2026
Agreement #3: Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.
Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.
With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
— Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements
How Many Times Have We Been Wrong?
Have you ever received a text message that seemed unusually short and immediately wondered what you had done wrong?
Have you ever sent someone an email, received no response, and assumed they were ignoring you?
Or perhaps you’ve walked into a room, noticed someone wasn’t particularly friendly, and decided they must be upset with you.
We all do it. We make assumptions, fill in the blanks, and create stories about situations we don’t fully understand.
The problem is that what we assume isn’t necessarily what is true.
In today’s world of text messages, emails, and social media, it’s easier than ever to misinterpret someone’s words or actions. We don’t always have the benefit of hearing their tone of voice, seeing their expressions, or understanding what’s happening in their lives.
A simple message can be misunderstood. Silence can be mistaken for rejection. And before we know it, we’ve created an entire story based on very little information.
Sometimes we end up frustrated, disappointed, or even angry over something that never happened.
The Power of Asking Questions
Don Miguel Ruiz reminds us that assumptions create unnecessary problems in our lives.
His advice is simple: Ask questions. Communicate clearly. Don’t expect others to read your mind, and don’t assume you can read theirs.
Instead of assuming someone is upset with you, ask if everything is okay.
Instead of assuming someone understands what you need, explain it.
Instead of deciding what someone meant, ask them to clarify.
Think about how many disagreements could be avoided if we simply communicated more openly and honestly.
How many workplace frustrations could disappear if expectations were clearly explained? How many family disagreements could be prevented if we stopped assuming everyone understood what we wanted?
One of the most valuable questions we can learn to ask is:
“Help me understand what you mean.”
Those five words can change the direction of a conversation.
What Does This Have to Do With Planning for 2027?
More than you might think!
As we prepare for a new year, we naturally think about the goals we want to accomplish and the changes we’d like to make.
But here’s something worth considering:
How many of our limitations are real, and how many are based on assumptions we’ve accepted as facts?
Perhaps you’ve convinced yourself you’re too old to start something new.
Maybe you’ve wanted to repair a relationship but assumed the other person wouldn’t be interested.
Perhaps you’ve considered a new opportunity but decided you weren’t qualified before even exploring it.
As we plan for 2027, we need to challenge some of the stories we’ve been telling ourselves.
Don’t assume you can’t learn something new. Don’t assume it’s too late to pursue a dream. And don’t assume that the way things have always been is the way they must always be.
Sometimes the first step toward a better year isn’t adding another goal. It’s questioning a belief that has been holding us back.
A Challenge for the Week Ahead
As part of your preparation for 2027, practice Agreement #3 this week.
When something happens that you don’t fully understand, pause before drawing a conclusion.
Ask yourself:
- What do I actually know? Am I responding to facts or simply making assumptions?
- Have I asked the right questions, or am I just guessing?
- Am I communicating clearly about what I want, need, or expect?
- Could there be another explanation I haven’t considered?
Then take action. Have a conversation you’ve been avoiding, clarify an expectation, or ask a question you’ve been afraid to ask.
You may discover that the situation isn’t nearly as complicated as you imagined.
A Short Story: The Unanswered Text
Imagine two longtime friends, Jim and David, who get together for lunch every month.
One month, Jim sends David a text suggesting they meet the following Friday. David doesn’t respond.
A few days pass. Jim sends another message. Still nothing.
Jim begins making assumptions.
“Maybe David doesn’t enjoy our lunches anymore.”
“Perhaps I’ve said something to offend him.”
“Maybe our friendship isn’t as important to him as it used to be.”
Eventually, Jim decides he’s not going to reach out again.
A couple of weeks later, the two run into each other at the grocery store. David apologizes for not responding. His phone had been giving him trouble, and he’d also been dealing with a family situation that had taken most of his attention.
Jim is surprised.
All that time, he had convinced himself their friendship was falling apart when David was simply dealing with a difficult situation.
Imagine how much unnecessary worry could have been avoided with one simple phone call.
The lesson? Don’t let an unanswered question become an unquestioned assumption.
Sometimes the best thing we can do is pick up the phone, have the conversation, and give people the opportunity to explain.
The Bottom Line
As we work toward Planning for Our Best Year Ever in 2027, let’s remember that we don’t have to know all the answers. But we do need to be willing to ask the right questions.
Pre-planning is about moving forward with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose. That means examining not only the goals we want to accomplish but also the assumptions and beliefs that might be standing in our way.
Don’t allow an assumption to become a limitation. Don’t allow a misunderstanding to damage a meaningful relationship. And don’t let an imagined outcome keep you from exploring a real possibility.
As you look toward 2027, make a commitment to ask more questions, communicate more clearly, listen more carefully, and remain open to new possibilities.
Your 2027 is yours to create. Make it a year guided by understanding rather than assumptions, and possibilities rather than preconceived limitations.
Next Tuesday, November 17: Part Four — Agreement #4: Always Do Your Best