Is it Weak to Change Your Mind?

I won’t debate someone unless I can tell the following:

‘If I gave this person evidence that proved their position wrong, would they change their mind?’

If this is a guy who identifies with this idea, then there is no point in debating them.

Their mind is glued.

‘What about you, Armani? Will you change your mind if evidence was given?’

Sure.

Everyone can say that though.

I’m sure there are some ideas that will require a lot of evidence.

For the most part, I like to consider myself as someone who will change their mind if a strong argument is given.

I recall a recent moment when I changed my mind.

A Recent Time That I Changed My Mind

I believe taking investor money is not always bad, but it only works for certain businesses.

If you are someone who is running a software company, then taking investor money is not bad.

Because you need to pay your employees, pay for supplies, and the investors may give great business advice.

I am open to software & product companies taking investor money.

But you know what I was very adamant about?

‘What?’

A personal brand should never take investor money.

It’s better to be built than bought as a personal brand.

Never trade away the rights to your brand!!

Recently, I was cohosting an episode of Unapologetic Truths, and my cohost had a counterargument.

He thought it would be wise for a new brand to sign up with a successful network so the new brand could learn skills faster and be introduced to important individuals within that niche.

His main point?

Selling away some stake of your personal brand to the right network can be strategic.

I thought about it…

He had a point.

In a flash, I changed my mind.

It felt refreshing to change my mind when a stronger argument was given.

Because it was not always like this…

The Unhinged Event Coordinator

I used to be the event coordinator for the Bengali Students Association.

One part of my job was getting the flyers made.

One time, we were throwing an ice cream social.

By the time I got the flyer back from the designer, I loved it.

I posted it on GroupMe with the other BSA members.

They hated the flyer.

The common sentiment was:

‘The brown ice cream on the flyer looks like poop!’

I was furious.

How dare they insult me like that?

I respond:

‘You guys are wrong, we are going to use this flyer.’

Once I made the event live, the page started to get a stream of comments.

The common sentiment from the public was:

‘The ice cream on the cover looks like poop!’

I recall getting so angry that I messaged one of the people who posted the poop comment on the event page & scolded him.

He was just a regular guy.

He quickly apologized.

After a week passed, I realized how unhinged I behaved.

The people in GroupMe never attacked me.

They were attacking the idea of the flyer.

It’s Physically Difficult to Change your Mind

Imagine if I told you that koalas can live up to 15 years in the wild.

Would that statement generate any physical sensations in your body?

‘No.’

Why not?

‘Because that knowledge does not deal with my life in any way.’

Correct.

Now imagine that you are a writer.

I give you a useful tip to polish up your writing to boost engagement.

Will this tip generate a feeling in your body?

‘Yes.’

Why?

‘Because this tip relates to me.’

Correct.

Accepted ideas deal with our lives in some way.

These ideas influence our decision-making on a day-by-day, weekly, and/or yearly level.

So, when someone comes out of the blue and says:

‘This idea is wrong!’

It feels like they are saying:

‘Your lifestyle is wrong!’

The kneejerk reaction is to go on an unhinged tirade like I did with the flyers.

The smart thing to do is prepare for the moment someone calls you out.

For every idea that you are passionate about, there is a person who is passionately against that idea.

Open-Minded Skepticism

Nowadays, I operate with an open-minded skepticism philosophy.

I’m open-minded enough to hear someone out, but I’m skeptical enough to listen to their argument and see if it makes sense.

If it makes sense, then I have no problem changing my mind.

Knowing that you are willing to change your mind loosens your body.

It doesn’t feel like you have to try and control everything.

Try it out for yourself.

Say this out loud:

‘I will change my mind on X topic if someone gives me a strong reason to.’

Feel the body loosen up?

This looseness in your body changes your perception of the person attacking the idea.

You now view this person as attacking the idea versus attacking you.

You see them as a regular person rather than the devil with horns.

It’s Not Weak to Change Your Mind…But…

Certain ideas will always be emotional.

Imagine a parent has a son.

The son grows up to be a bad person.

He robs, steals, and lies.

Outsiders are trying to convince the parent that their son is a bad guy.

They use all the logic in the book.

But since the parent loves the son, the parent says:

‘Nope, my son is not a bad guy. He is simply misguided.’

No matter what you do, you will not shake that belief in the parent.

We all have ideas like that.

Where all the logic & evidence in the world will not shake our resolve.

In my opinion, that’s fine.

But when you are acting like no idea can be challenged, then you become a baby tyrant.

A person who becomes more delusional day-by-day.

Simply say:

‘I’ll change my mind if someone gives me a reason to.’

Let the looseness wash over your body.

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