Listen to people who are wrong
Don’t be emotionally attached to what you think you know. Decline to have a relationship with information.
For example — What do you do when you see something you initially disagree with?
- Do you pass on reading a news article when you don’t like the headline?
- Do you scroll past a triggering social media post?
- Do you ignore that opinionated co-worker?
Your initial reaction may be “they’re wrong”, but how do you know? How do you know you’re not the one who’s wrong?
A data point that challenges your pre-existing opinion is not a challenge to you personally. It is not dangerous or unsafe to hear counter-arguments. You will not be harmed if you do.
Oddly enough, what actually is dangerous is to refuse to see the world outside of your initial lens. That behavior is what leads to bigotry and discrimination. That is what makes the world a worse place.
So do yourself a favor and listen to someone who you think is wrong — you may just learn something.
