There's nothing wrong w/assumptions. In fact we do it constantly, subconsciously. For instance, video is played at 18 frames/sec to give the illusion of fluid motion. The brain assumes there's motion between each frame. Assumption is essential to life. Another example: Do you wear jewelry? Remember the first time you put on a ring, bracelet, watch, ear ring, or piercing? The first few minutes or hours (sometimes days) the jewelry might annoy you. But after a week, you hardly notice it's there. The brain assumes the jewelry is not life-threatening, so it ignores it. Ok, here's an extreme: you've read and heard stories that black widows are dangerous. But you've never been bit by one. However, you assume what you hear is true, so you stay away from black widows. That's a good assumption, cuz it helps you survive. And that's how assumptions should be used: for survival. Other "trivial" ones such as racist generalities are probably non-essential assumptions that can probably be tossed out. Anyways, report back on how you do w/your paradigm shift.
Jae