Wo Ye Soch Raha Hoga/Hogi !

 What if They (the People) Had Thought of This and That!?

An Insight by Dr Sunil S Rana 

We live in a time where imagination has become both a gift and a curse. A large section of people today does not simply think, they overthink. They read meanings where none exist, they weave stories from gestures and postures, and they take innocent silences as confirmations of their own self-created suspicions.

The cycle often begins with one dangerous seed: “What if…”

“What if he ignored me deliberately?”

“What if she has hidden motives?”

“I am sure they said this because they don’t like me…”

And thus, perceptions turn into conclusions, and conclusions into relationships gone sour. The irony is that the person being doubted often has no idea of the storm brewing in the mind of the other.

The Vicious Circle of Misjudgment:

This mindset is becoming a grave concern in modern society. People are quick to form judgments, but slow to clarify. Instead of asking, they assume. Instead of conversing, they conclude. And the result? Broken trust, growing distance, and unnecessary bitterness.

-If parents tell their children what’s right and wrong, children suspect vested interests.

• If friends give genuine advice, it is misunderstood as an ego clash.
• If siblings express concern, it is dismissed as an attempt to suppress independence.

What used to be loving guidance is now perceived as control. What used to be honest feedback is branded as arrogance. And what used to be pure affection is treated as interference.

Why Is This Mentality Growing?

1. Excessive exposure to half-baked information - Social media feeds imagination more than facts. People start seeing themselves as “all-knowing.”
2. Ego and insecurity – Many lack the maturity to accept correction. Ego whispers: “They want to pull you down.”
3. Declining communication – People don’t talk openly anymore. Instead of clarifying, they quietly harbor doubts.
4. Cultural shift in values - Respect for elders, faith in friends, and trust in family bonds are weakening under the weight of hyper-individualism.

The Way Out: From Assumption to Understanding:

Society needs a paradigm shift from suspicion to dialogue. Solutions are simple, but require conscious effort:

• Clarity over assumption - Instead of thinking “what if”, ask “why not clarify?”
• Listen before reacting - Often, what we perceive is not the truth but a reflection of our own mindset.
• Respect the intent – Parents, siblings, and friends are not enemies of your freedom; most of the time, their intent is care, not control.
• Self-awareness - Before labelling someone, check whether your ego, insecurity, or bias is colouring your thoughts.

A Final Word:

The mentality of “What if they thought this or that” is not just petty overthinking;  it is a silent poison eroding trust and harmony in families, friendships, and society at large. We must remind ourselves: life is too short to live in imagined conflicts.

Instead of assuming, let us start understanding. Instead of building walls of doubt, let us build bridges of dialogue. Because sometimes, the problem is not what others actually think about us;  the problem is what we imagine they think.