I feel like in our world today, people are condemned for changing their minds. Given new insights, or a well-reasoned argument, shouldn’t it be acceptable– and in fact lauded– when someone decides to change their view? Shouldn’t we be able to say humbly “I misunderstood” or “I was misinformed” or even “I was wrong”? Yet here we are, in the age of the internet, where everything we write and say is recorded for all time: where past statements and opinions are held up to scrutiny when we say something different now. Where changing our minds is perceived as weakness, insecurity, or indecision.
Although I’m not saying I feel oppressed or mocked for changing my mind, I’ve been studying and learning a lot of late, and I must admit my views of certain things are shifting. It’s a good exercise, and one I hope brings me to a better place of understanding. Moreover, I hope I can avoid judging others for shifting their perspective, and instead celebrate with them as they find a new way to look at something.
I stumbled upon this wisdom from one of our Founding Fathers:
For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
— Benjamin Franklin