I've got to stop speculating!

When am I going to learn?

Not to speculate.  Definition: To engage in a course of reasoning often based on inconclusive evidence.

What a waste of time.  But it's easy to get drawn in:

- Maybe he/she meant ...
- Probably what happened was ...
- I think it means ...

We (I) do it when someone doesn't return our call, when we wonder about some news item and come up with theories about this and that, when we assume motives.

I'm not talking here about "dan l'chaf zechus" (judging favorably).  It's more about coming up with explanations for things we read and hear about.  It's usually a waste of energy because a) we don't have all the information and b) we simply can't read other people's minds.

In some cases, just by waiting things become clear.  In other cases, we can take the initiative and ask questions.  Otherwise, no speculating!