"We think we know what's right. With excessive pride comes blindness."
- Paul Haggis
Do you consider yourself to be a growth-minded person? Are you willing to reserve judgment or weighing in on something until you have heard all the facts? Are you willing to admit you were wrong? We are currently living in a world where many people choose to cling to their beliefs, even when presented with contradicting evidence. Some people would rather retreat to their confirmation bias bubble than suffer the crippling reality of cognitive dissonance. It can be a slippery slope toward living in a world where feelings and opinions matter more than facts or actual truth.
Nobody likes to be wrong, but some people dislike it so much they are more willing to dig their heels in to their beliefs than give in to reality. They may not even care if they are wrong and may take a sense of pride in their unwillingness to bend or break to the facts. This can be amplified by a larger group of people living in their confirmation bias bubble. They may be wrong, but at least they are in good company, albeit it misguided company. They become victims of a fixed mindset that will not allow them to change their minds, no matter what. It's a hard-headed approach to life, to say the least.
The growth-minded approach takes pride-swallowing humility. We have to be willing to admit when we are wrong and adapt to a new reality based off the facts and evidence presented to us. Sometimes it's not even facts, but simply a better approach that makes more sense. People who utilize a growth mindset don't always need to be right. They are willing to concede their ideas for something that makes more sense. They are willing to shift their thinking to their benefit. They take pride in making the right choice instead of always feeling a need to be right, even if they are wrong.
A fixed-mindset puts limits on our abilities since it gives us blinders and an unwillingness to budge. Being more open-minded presents us with more opportunities. We are willing to be more flexible and work toward compromise and collaboration. With a growth mindset, the possibilities are seemingly endless due to an open exchange of ideas where being wrong doesn't matter, as long as it leads to the best outcome. It should be a no-brainer as to which is the best approach, especially when considering it with an open mind.
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