It Is OK To Be Wrong

I am the most “wrong” person I know.

I make mistakes all the time.  And I admit it.

Of course, I often act like I’m right, just like anyone else, and I can get stuck in the normal everyday “script” of pitting my opinions up against the “wrong” opinions of other people.  I can even sometimes get jerky about it.

But as I’m left alone in the aftermath and in my quiet moments of introspection, I often realize that I was wrong.  Do YOU do the same?  Or am I alone in this?

I often think to myself, “Why on earth did you argue/disagree with that person?”  And then I try to justify my temporary insanity with things like:

• I was tired
• I was hungry
• I might have a mental illness

But they say that if you can ask, “Am I crazy?” then you are obviously not, since no crazy person has ever asked that question of themselves.  Or is that a myth?

I then often go back to the people I disagreed with, and apologize.  I do this especially if I caused a ruckus.  Take note: I am the only person I know that regularly apologizes for one’s behavior.   I can’t think of a time anyone has ever asked me to forgive them.  Am I alone in this? (the former sentence; not the latter)

At any rate, in order to save myself some time and some crow-eating, I now try to consider other people’s points of view as they are expressing it.

Very often, if the person makes a really good point, I find myself saying words like:

• “I never thought of it that way; I agree with you now”
• “You make a very good point; I now share your opinion”

Take note: I am the only person I know that utters such words.

No one has EVER said such words to me.  Why is that? Are we all so caught up in the need to be right, that we can’t allow our egos to be bruised and broken by being wrong?

It is OK to be wrong and admit it!  How do we know we’re right?  I think we all know when our own position is weak and stupid…but even when we KNOW we’re right, we can still be wrong.

That’s why “argument” and “debate” are false-virtues.  Any stupid idiot can be right.  Any mindless drone on this planet can argue, so it doesn’t make you special to be “right”.  How many people can actually step out of their point of view and actually consider another person’s way of thinking?  Not 1 in 10,000.

For some more thoughts on this subject, please go read my book review of “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.

My last comment on this whole subject is once again, am I alone in all this?

-Shawn B