Go Ahead and Change Your Mind

It’s okay to change your mind. You can be committed to some position for years or decades and later to decide that you believe or support something else.

New Information

Over time, you should be getting smarter. Being entirely consistent in everything you believe can mean that you aren’t growing. There has never been a time where so much new knowledge is being created, and with it, the occasional new wisdom.

Not changing your mind about anything means that you are not taking in new information, new knowledge, or new wisdom.

Ignoring new evidence means stagnation. Consistency in the face of new information and new evidence is stagnation.

New Beliefs

What beliefs have you changed in the last few years? It’s unlikely that you’ve changed your religion or your political affiliation. It’s equally likely that you share both of these beliefs with your parents, not to suggest that you shouldn’t.

This economy is a different economy than your parent’s and grandparent’s. The challenges are different and more difficult. The opportunities are greater, and some of the obstacles have all but disappeared. The ideas that may have served you well three decades ago will now do more harm than good. Have your beliefs about the economy changed?

Work is different now. Work was different 30, 40, and 70 years ago. Careers were different. Does the word “work” or “career” mean something different to you now? Have your ideas changed?

How to Change Your Mind

You shouldn’t be embarrassed to have changed your mind. It is a sign that you are learning, discovering, and growing. It’s more dangerous to stay locked to a belief that no longer serves you, especially when there is a good reason to adopt a new idea.

When pressed about having abandoned a long-held position, you simply say, “I have changed my mind about that. I no longer believe what I used to believe.” No apologies. No shame. Instead, growth.

If your beliefs haven’t changed, it’s worth taking them time to examine them and see if they still serve you, and to measure them against new evidence and new information. If you haven’t changed your mind about anything, it may indicate a need to explore ideas that make you uncomfortable.