I saw this on a car’s bumper sticker today:
“Don’t Believe Everything You Think”
It definitely struck me and resonated with what I continually try to focus upon. Always question your basic beliefs and assumptions. Objectively (truly objectively) look at all points of an argument or belief. Use the Clinical Attitude whenever possible.
Embrace intellectual integrity and be willing to admit that beliefs you’ve held for many years may be wrong when you’re presented with evidence that conflicts and challenges those beliefs. Adopt the attitude of, “Bring it on. Give me some kind of evidence that can seriously rock the foundations of my life assumptions. Make me question the foundation of my beliefs, change as needed, and get closer to the truth.“ As rational thinking individuals this is the approach we should adopt.
Unfortunately, my assumption is that most people who would put this sticker on their car are more interested in how it applies to others rather than themselves. I think that 99% of the populace would NEVER want to challenge and change their inherent beliefs.
If you pretend to be objective and unbiased, yet you do “your own research” and select only the first link that agrees with your ingrained belief, the you’re simply deceiving yourself. You aren’t objectively challenging yourself in any way.
If this is you . . . . you’re a slave to Confirmation Bias.
If you listen to pundits spouting all you believe and hold true, and think that confirms your position . . . you’re not objectively looking for the truth. You’re looking for a security-blanket – your own personal self-deception binky.
Don’t believe what you believe. Don’t assume the majority are right. Break free from the herd. Assume they’re wrong. Assume you’re wrong. Dig for ALL the evidence to move towards a more accurate picture of reality – the truth.
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