Changing Your Mind

Changing Your Mind Is a Superpower

We live in a world that often confuses stubbornness with strength. People are rewarded for sticking to their positions, no matter what. But the truth is, changing your mind isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a testament to growth, curiosity, and courage.

Have you ever looked back on something you once believed with absolute certainty—only to realize you were wrong? Maybe it was a political stance, a personal conviction, or even an assumption about another person. If you're honest, your views have shifted over time.

Why do we shame people for learning, adapting, and growing?

Learning should shake us, challenge us, and force us to question what we thought was true.

No wonder it is threatening to some. Learning is power.

Why Do People Struggle to Change Their Minds?

Even when presented with overwhelming evidence, many people find it incredibly difficult to change their beliefs. This resistance isn’t just about stubbornness—it’s deeply psychological, social, and even neurological. Here are some key reasons why changing our minds is so hard:

1. Cognitive Dissonance

Psychologists describe cognitive dissonance as the mental discomfort we experience when new information contradicts what we already believe (Festinger, 1957). Instead of adapting, we often try to resolve this discomfort by rejecting or rationalizing the new information.

2. Confirmation Bias

People tend to seek out and prioritize information that confirms their existing beliefs while ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence. This is known as confirmation bias, and it affects everything from political opinions to personal relationships.

3. Social Pressure and Identity

Our beliefs are often tied to our identities and social circles. Changing our minds can feel like a betrayal of our communities, families, or even ourselves. People fear alienation and rejection, which can make it easier to cling to old beliefs rather than risk losing belonging.

4. The Sunk Cost Fallacy

The more time, energy, and emotional investment we’ve put into a belief, the harder it is to let go. This is known as the sunk cost fallacy—the idea that if we’ve committed to something for so long, abandoning it feels like losing everything we’ve invested.

5. Fear of Uncertainty

Uncertainty is uncomfortable. Believing we know the truth gives us a sense of stability and control. Changing our minds means admitting we don’t have all the answers, which can be unsettling.

6. Political and Media Polarization

Many of us live in information bubbles created by social media and news outlets that reinforce our views. The more polarized our environment, the harder it becomes to even hear opposing perspectives, let alone consider them.

7. Pride and Ego

No one likes to admit they were wrong. It can feel like a personal failure, especially in a culture that equates certainty with strength. But real strength comes from learning and growing.

Lessons from History

Some of the greatest leaders and thinkers have had the humility to change their minds.

• Rachel Carson, best known for Silent Spring, was originally skeptical of environmental activism but, through her scientific research, became one of the most influential voices in the modern environmental movement.
• Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel laureate, shifted her activism from political reform to grassroots tree planting when she realized environmental destruction was at the root of many social issues.
• Leslie Feinberg, author of Stone Butch Blues, initially viewed gender in more binary terms but later developed a more fluid understanding of trans and nonbinary identities, shaping a broader movement for gender liberation.

None of these figures were weak. They were willing to learn, grow, and change their minds.

Indigenous Wisdom and the Fluidity of Knowledge

Many Indigenous cultures recognize that knowledge is not static. Instead, it’s something that deepens over time, shaped by experience and new understanding.

Potawatomi scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer writes:

"In the Indigenous view, humans are the younger brothers of creation. We must listen to the teachers all around us: the plants, the animals, the land. They remind us that adaptation is survival."

Western cultures often frame changing one's mind as "flip-flopping," but in many Indigenous traditions, adaptability is wisdom. The ability to listen—to the land, to others, to new information—is essential for survival and thriving.

Overcoming the Fear of Changing Your Mind

Recognizing these psychological barriers is the first step in overcoming them. Here’s how we can all get better at embracing growth:

✅ Practice intellectual humility – Accept that no one knows everything, and being wrong is part of learning.
✅ Seek diverse perspectives – Read, listen, and engage with ideas that challenge your beliefs.
✅ Ask yourself: What if I’m wrong? – Instead of defending your beliefs at all costs, consider what new evidence might change your mind.
✅ Reward growth, not just consistency – Instead of seeing mind-changing as a flaw, recognize it as a sign of intelligence and adaptability.

Changing your mind isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And in a world that’s constantly evolving, being open to learning is one of the most powerful things we can do.

What Would It Take for Us to See?

What would it take for all of us to be a little more open to change?

• Curiosity over certainty. Instead of arguing to “win,” what if we approached debates with a genuine desire to learn?
• Less us vs. them. What if we stopped viewing ideological shifts as betrayals and instead saw them as natural parts of growth?
• Room for redemption. Cancel culture thrives on the idea that past mistakes define a person forever. But what if we allowed people the space to evolve without fear of permanent condemnation?

The ability to change your mind isn’t a flaw. It’s a superpower. It’s the difference between stagnation and progress, between ignorance and wisdom.

So, the next time you learn something new that challenges your beliefs, embrace it. Lean into the discomfort. And if you need to change your mind—do it without shame.

Because growing is the point.

Fellow leaders and learners, I wish you courage, rest, and Beloved Community for the journey. Together we catalyze a brave, bold, and liberatory future.

Peace to you,

Sources:

• Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford University Press.
• Lorde, A. (1984). Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches.
• Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.
• Nyhan, B., & Reifler, J. (2010). When Corrections Fail: The Persistence of Political Misperceptions. Political Behavior, 32(2), 303-330.
• Lord, C. G., Ross, L., & Lepper, M. R. (1979). Biased assimilation and attitude polarization: The effects of prior theories on subsequently considered evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(11), 2098-2109.