What if you were wrong?

When you log into Facebook, the first question that pops up is: "What's on your mind, X?" The emergence of social media makes us feel like we matter, like whatever is "on our mind" is important. In the ideal world of social media, everyone has a voice. And EVERYTHING you say will be seen by everyone.

So how do we manage our social media? With a lot of questions: Are these pictures the right vibe? Is this post funny or smart enough? What will people think of me?

The most dangerous question of all is: Am I conflicting with myself?

This question implies that you have a certain “public image” or identity to preserve. Are you the meme lord, the intellectual, or the educator? To protect our public image, we choose to not share an opinion that conflicts with what we said despite thinking that it’s right.

This question lies at the core of our polarized society: If you have an opinion, you have to stick with it till you die. This idea kills all learning and transformation.

A better question is: What if you were wrong?

If the answer is yes, you are learning something new. Learning is not only about how well you can prove that you are right, but more about how quickly you can realize that you are wrong.

In the end, our greatest power as learners is the ability to change our opinions. The first step to better learning is accepting that you might be wrong.