Change your mind

Changing your mind is a superpower.

Parents and teachers taught us that strong people stick to their beliefs. That flip-flopping is weakness.

We’ve got it backwards.

Five years ago, I was convinced that morning routines were overrated. I prided myself on flexibility - waking up at different times, working when inspiration struck.

When friends suggested structured mornings, I dismissed them. I had plenty of evidence that my approach worked for “my creative process.”

But results speak louder than beliefs. My output was inconsistent. My energy fluctuated wildly.

I reluctantly tested a fixed morning routine for just two weeks. Wake at 6AM. Exercise. Meditate. Write. Every day, no exceptions.

The difference was undeniable. More consistent energy. Better thinking. Double the output.

I had to admit I was wrong. Completely, utterly wrong.

The smartest people I know change their minds regularly. Not out of inconsistency, but because they’re constantly updating their mental models.

Charlie Munger called this “destroying your best-loved ideas.” Jeff Bezos considers what evidence would change his mind about any position.

In a world of increasing complexity, certainty is often a liability.

The people who cling to outdated beliefs fall behind. The ones who adapt their thinking move forward.

Strong opinions, loosely held.

The next time you feel that instinctive defense of your position, consider what evidence would make you change your mind.

If the answer is “nothing,” you’re not thinking clearly.

Intelligence isn’t about being right initially. It’s about being less wrong over time.