A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open.
Frank Zappa
Creating Meaning
We rely on the familiar to understand the world around us. Our beliefs, our experiences, our knowledge work together to create meaning. Together they provide a ‘velcro wall’ so that new information has context to help us make sense of it. The more connections we can make to prior knowledge, the more easily it sticks to the wall. If we have no prior knowledge or context, it’s like throwing ourselves at the ‘velcro wall’ without putting on the suit. The new information slips right off.
3 Sticky Problems
The first problem occurs when we assume that everyone’s ‘velcro wall’ is constructed with the same beliefs, experiences and knowledge as ours. Thus believing that logical individuals, given the same information, will arrive at the same conclusion as us. And if they don’t, they’re wrong.
The second problem occurs when we refuse new information because it’s outside our own experiences, knowledge, and/or beliefs. Therefore we dismiss disconfirming facts and we refuse to consider them as valid.
The third problem occurs when we twist facts in order to create confirming evidence. We can manipulate information to support any belief wherever we look. Whether we search the bible, the internet, or the library, we will find ‘evidence’ that supports our argument if we’re looking only for confirming evidence.
Free-falling
If we’re not open and actively seeking to understand the beliefs, experiences, and knowledge of others, we free-fall. And our mind unopened is in danger of crashing into the rubble of our own close-mindedness.
It’s easy to live in certitude. Believing that we have a corner on truth, we judge all new information through that lens of ‘truth’. Unless the information, new learning, or experiences of others stick to our ‘velcro wall’, we discount it. Or argue against it. Or dismiss it. It’s hard to relinquish control and let our minds open up to listen to the experiences, beliefs, and knowledge of others. Without defense. Opening our minds, opens the parachute and broadens our understanding.
It Doesn’t Mean We Give Up …
Gaining this perspective doesn’t mean I must give up my own beliefs. Rather it means that I recognize that the experiences and beliefs of others may be very different than my own. And just as valid. When I’ve never walked in someone else’s shoes, how can I judge the path they take? It doesn’t give us a pass to ignore the harm perpetrated against others in this world. Rather it makes us more compassionate and less determined to bend others to our way of thinking.
You might be saying, hold on. Wait a minute. That sounds loosey goosey. Like there’s no absolute right or wrong. No absolute truth. Right now in our world, I see more evidence that truth is relative than I ever did when I was younger. Truth has become hierarchical. We’ll sacrifice this ‘truth’ in order to maintain this one. Where the end justifies the means. With the result that people and values and beliefs are pitted against each other in the jockey for power.
The Iron Prescription
In his October 31st newsletter, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, wrote the following quote by Charlie Munger.
I have what I call an “iron prescription” that helps me keep sane when I drift toward preferring one intense ideology over another. I feel that I’m not entitled to have an opinion unless I can state the arguments against my position better than the people who are in opposition. I think that I’m qualified to speak only when I’ve reached that state…
That is probably too tough for most people, although I hope it won’t ever become too tough for me… This business of not drifting into extreme ideology is very, very important in life. If you want to end up wise, heavy ideology is very likely to prevent that outcome.
Charlie Munger Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Seeking to understand each other is the ripcord that opens our mind. It’s hard to consider the other side of an argument when it runs counter to everything we believe in. Engaging in it even a little, puts us on the path to wisdom.
Yes! I want to receive your newsletter.
Simply . . .
P.S. The quote at the beginning of this post caught my attention a while ago. I feel like politicians are hand-picking beliefs and using them to manipulate people into polarized camps. It disturbs me. It is us, the people, who can change the trajectory by refusing to allow our differences to polarize us. This post is my interpretation of the quote.
P.S.S. It’s been a long time since I last posted. I don’t want to abandon my website but I’ve taken on other projects and I’ve been trying to come up with a way to blend them. I have some ideas and will share them soon. Until then. Thanks for reading!