HME 031: It’s Ok To Be Wrong - Hot Mess Express

Being Wrong Isn’t A Bad Thing In this age of overwhelming ignorance, where people see opinions as being equal, being wrong is seen as something to be ashamed of. Not all opinions are equal and neither are all opinions valid. Sometimes, like the graphic says, you’re just fucking wrong. Yet we live in a world where fewer and fewer people are able to admit it. Nobody knows all things, nor are they an expert in all things. Some of our best learning lessons come from our being horrendously wrong. Owning up to where we’re wrong shows humility and a vulnerability that bridges divides. Only those who are invested in being right all the time would take offense. Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying “I destroy my enemies by making them into friends”. This saying isn’t just about being friendly with those who hate you, but about being able to admit you held an incorrect belief about them. We’ve all either gained or given bad first impressions in our lifetime. Perhaps it was a bad day, you or they were struggling with something, or maybe you were just distracted at the time. It’s easy to come off being rude.  It’s even easier to attribute your impression of someone else’s rudeness as being part of their personality. Be Wrong. Be Vulnerable. In order to bridge divides and to build solid relationships, you have to be vulnerable. Nobody likes to feel vulnerable. Yet it’s sometimes the only way to diffuse a tense situation. Vulnerability can lower the other person’s defenses and help bring about true understanding. So, the next time you’re wrong, just admit it. Don’t offer an explanation unless it’s asked for and don’t try to justify it. Just admit it. You’ll be amazed at how much healthier your relationships are and how much more productive conversations can be. [Tweet theme=”tweet-box-normal-blue”]Sometimes you’re just f*cking wrong.[/Tweet]   Subscribe To The Hot Mess Express iTunes Stitcher Tune.In Player.FM