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The Power of Being Wrong
In my corporate career I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my performance career I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my martial arts practice I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my stickwork practice I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my writing interaction I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my life I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
And I pity these people.
It's not just that mistakes are a great teacher, it's not just that a good idea can come from anywhere, it's not just that other people have a lot to offer. It's that when you can admit you are wrong you remove all sorts of pressure and time constraints from your life.
If you cannot admit you were wrong about something, you have to invent excuses and defend them and assign blame and alienate folks who must be at fault.
If you can admit you are wrong all you have to do is align with reality and since reality does not change, only our perception of it does, reality is the memory you can always access. No work is required, no justifications, no additional stress, nothing.
I am wrong a lot in my life. Granted, I try not to be wrong about the same thing in the same way repeatedly, but there are so many things in the world that I can't be bothered with pretending I am right when I do not have a clue.
So when I am wrong, I admit it as soon as I discover it, make whatever amends I can, and move on, working to not repeat the same mistakes.
Because that is the other benefit of being able to admit you are wrong, you need not engage in guilt.
Regret is the reflection on an action and the decision it was in error. Regret is a great learning tool.
Guilt is nothing more than manipulation. I'm not a big fan of manipulation because it is usually practiced by those who cannot ever admit they are wrong.
Another day we'll discuss confidence and the basic misunderstandings around that word and action.
In my performance career I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my martial arts practice I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my stickwork practice I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my writing interaction I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
In my life I run across many people who cannot ever admit they were wrong about anything.
And I pity these people.
It's not just that mistakes are a great teacher, it's not just that a good idea can come from anywhere, it's not just that other people have a lot to offer. It's that when you can admit you are wrong you remove all sorts of pressure and time constraints from your life.
If you cannot admit you were wrong about something, you have to invent excuses and defend them and assign blame and alienate folks who must be at fault.
If you can admit you are wrong all you have to do is align with reality and since reality does not change, only our perception of it does, reality is the memory you can always access. No work is required, no justifications, no additional stress, nothing.
I am wrong a lot in my life. Granted, I try not to be wrong about the same thing in the same way repeatedly, but there are so many things in the world that I can't be bothered with pretending I am right when I do not have a clue.
So when I am wrong, I admit it as soon as I discover it, make whatever amends I can, and move on, working to not repeat the same mistakes.
Because that is the other benefit of being able to admit you are wrong, you need not engage in guilt.
Regret is the reflection on an action and the decision it was in error. Regret is a great learning tool.
Guilt is nothing more than manipulation. I'm not a big fan of manipulation because it is usually practiced by those who cannot ever admit they are wrong.
Another day we'll discuss confidence and the basic misunderstandings around that word and action.