SELF-IMPROVEMENT
I Haven’t Thought of It This Way
Why We Need to Question Our Assumptions
“If one has the answers to all the questions — that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble.” — Pope Francis
Certainty is a dangerous thing. It breeds arrogance and closes our minds off to new perspectives and possibilities.
We become so convinced that our worldview is the only one that exists that we stop growing and progressing as individuals. This isn’t healthy — for ourselves or society as a whole.
To move forward, we must embrace uncertainty and question our assumptions. Only then can we learn new things and grow as people.
Are you up for the challenge?
Craving Certainty
We get so used to believing something is true that we forget to question it — which can prevent us from growing as individuals and as a society.
The only way out of this trap is to challenge the status quo, seek new perspectives and embrace uncertainty.
Always being sure of something and never questioning that “certainty” is a dangerous way to go through life — never growing, never courting new ideas and perspectives, and assuming that the moral ground around us is a given.
We don’t realize it, but we’ve fallen victim to intellectual arrogance; convinced that our worldview is the only perspective, we stop ourselves from progressing further.
Since when have we become so sure? What can we discover if we remove bias and open our minds to listening with empathy and respect?
While it’s true that human beings are hardwired for certainty, this gives us all the more reason to try to push ourselves out of our comfort zones.
Whether traveling, reading more books, or engaging in meaningful debates with someone whose beliefs don’t match our own, these opportunities help us step outside the realm of arrogance and become better people.
Everyone must strive for curiosity. Otherwise, with no attempt at mutual understanding, understanding and compromise will continue to elude communities worldwide.
Replacing Certainty
Let’s replace certainty with curiosity and see what happens.
Let’s try to challenge our assumptions and search for new perspectives we hadn’t considered before.
Let’s travel, read more books, and engage in meaningful conversations with those who have different views than ours — all these opportunities help us realize that our worldview isn’t the only one that exists.
We must remember that without genuine curiosity, we limit ourselves as individuals and as a society.
Don’t be afraid to take chances and explore ideas you may not have encountered before. You never know what possibilities might come from it!
It’s time to stop being so sure and start being more curious!
Here are some ways you can break free of your comfort zone and start being more curious:
- Read books written by authors with different perspectives than you
- Visit a new city or country to experience a completely different culture.
- Participate in meaningful conversations, listening with empathy and respect.
- Take the time to understand someone else’s beliefs without passing judgment.
- Question assumptions and challenge yourself to think outside the box.
The goal is to open our minds and hearts to genuine curiosity, embracing uncertainty instead of clinging to certainty.
If we can do that, we’ll have taken a crucial step towards finding true harmony in understanding each other.
“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” — Bertrand Russell
Asking More, Assuming Less
Let’s all make an effort to ask more questions and assume less.
Asking questions helps us gain a deeper understanding of the other person and their point of view, helping us see beyond our own biases.
When we question ourselves and others, it pushes us further out of our comfort zone — allowing us to explore perspectives we would never have considered.
There is always something new to learn from another person; if we let down our guard and engage in meaningful conversations without making assumptions, great things can come from it!
Search for “I Haven’t Thought of It This Way” Moments
We need to search for “I haven’t thought of it this way” moments and adopt a mindset of genuine curiosity, seeking to learn new things.
These moments allow us to break free from our assumptions and biases — offering us an opportunity to see the world in a new light with genuine curiosity and respect.
These moments don’t come easily; they require patience and effort as we attempt to understand someone else’s point of view.
Let’s approach conversations with an open mind and a willingness to learn. In that case, these moments can become part of our world.
When was the last time you experienced an “I haven’t thought of it this way” moment? If it’s been a while, then it’s time to make an effort to step out of your comfort zone and search for it.
When have you last connected with someone who disagrees with you? Have you seen any posts on social media that challenged your views lately? Have you listened to what they had to say?
It’s time to be honest and ask what we are doing to get out of our comfort zone. If the answer isn’t enough, it’s time to start taking action!
Go seek out conversations with people with different perspectives — and don’t forget that genuine curiosity is essential for pushing us further in our journey towards understanding each other better.
Strive for “I haven’t thought of it this way” moments. It may not be easy, but it’ll be worth it! Let’s all try to challenge ourselves and adopt a mindset of genuine curiosity!
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I published this article in my Substack´s Newsletter, “Beyond Two Cents.” on November 25th, 2022.
© Alejandro Betancourt, 2023. All Rights Reserved.
