Society praises intelligence, leaving little room for flawed thinking. The evidence of this is how we react to those we deep, impolitely put, stupid. Social media has taken to new heights how much people have a disdain for people they deem to be less superior than they are in thinking. Generally speaking, very few of us are both honest and modest about how much we, in fact, do not know. Whether working at the drug store or a web design company in whatever capacity, quite truthfully, you’re not a smart as you think you are. That includes outside the work setting.
Understanding that you’re bias
Have you unfortunately met people who claim that they are a pro at something, yet their performance, at best, is average? We might frown at these people, wondering how in the world they’re unable to see the obvious: they are not as good as they think they are. Before you think of too many examples of others, consider the times where you were sure about a relationship, opportunity or opinion that you were positive was right, only for events to prove you otherwise? What reason did you give yourself to let yourself off the hook?
Be wary of the tendency to think that you’re smarter than the next person in all areas. It is likely that you are overlooking your failures and only shining a spotlight on what you perceive to be excelling at. However, like the people who perplex you, you’re perhaps not a smart as you genuinely think you are.
You’ve been wrong before, and you will be wrong again
Staying put in our views and perceptions without at least seeking to hear and understand those that oppose ours is problematic. When the world was factually flat, and women were considered incapable of participating in politics, those of us alive at this time consider these aspects ridiculous now, despite those being the order of the day at the time. In the same way, don’t be too willing to “die” for your ideas. Leave room to be wrong, as that places you in a position to learn, especially with regards to the flaws in your thinking.
The probability you could have made an error in a judgment based on an incomplete picture or heavily and incorrectly attributing it to experience should be at the forefront of your mind. Being open and humble to the chance that you could be wrong in your perception makes correction of the same welcomed and less painful to bear.
