I wrote yesterday about certainty (dot #4543) and have been paying attention to the ways in which presumed certainty shows up in my life. I’ve been surprised to learn that I have changed my preferences in many situations—a real-life Green Eggs and Sam.
I unsuccessfully hunted around for a particular brand of juice and when I couldn’t find it, purchased another. Then the flavor I was certain I liked best was restocked, but I actually preferred the substitute. I have a favorite dish at a particular restaurant, but when I tried what a friend ordered I was no longer certain that my “favorite” was indeed that. I automatically assumed the particular training exercise I use often was perfect, but after testing out another, I am no longer certain that it is.
These are all trivial examples but openness to “other” is a key component of empathy, innovation, and harmony. See if you can’t be less certain about your actions and choices in the coming week.
beautiful! In every aspect of life we must keep these principles in mind. Not just so that we can avoid our own confirmation bias, but also so that we can hear our friends, family, and coworkers with genuine empathy. A great many brilliant ideas no doubt languish because we just can’t “hear” them.