How To Not Take Things So Personally
The Problem:
Somewhere in the human brain, there is a very selfish gene that takes over our thought process, causing us to assume that everything is about ourselves. For example, when you hear an opposing political view, you feel personally attacked, or when someone cuts you off on the road, you feel as if that person was personally targeting you. The same goes when matters are good. For example, we feel a sense of personal enjoyment when the weather is nice, as though it is there for our own benefit. This inherent bias that we possess has forced us to take most matters too personally. This becomes a problem when matters are not personal at all and our emotions start clouding our judgments.
The Solution:
You must start accepting that the world is a much larger place than you think. Not every good thing or bad thing that happens to you should be perceived as a personal event. We all must accept that successes and hardships are part of life, and realistically, there is no chance of avoiding either one. Whether you are deserving or undeserving of random actions is not part of the equation.
How To Actually Change Your Mind
The Problem:
Too many people get so attached to their ideas, opinions, and values that they believe their perspective is the only correct way of thinking. This attachment has led to the downfall of many people throughout history. The problem stems from the fact that the thoughts, opinions, and values of an individual represent one’s own identity, and to question those beliefs ultimately means to question one’s identity (or at least a part of it).
Let’s use the example of someone who denies climate change. There is a high chance that they have researched scientific articles, read books and have accessed other resources to validate their thoughts. Ultimately, this belief becomes a major representation of their overall identity.
The Solution:
You must accept that some of your opinions and ideas are not concrete or necessarily correct. Opinions are not facts, and acknowledging this will aid in your ability to understand different perspectives and ideas, which may, in turn, allow your mind to grow.
Being stubborn in one’s own worldview prevents one from seeing other options, and when it comes to problem-solving in life, much can be gained from the ability to analyze diverse ideas.
How To Act Without Knowing The Result
The Problem:
Almost everything we choose to attempt in life, we do so because we seek a desired result. When we choose to clean our rooms, the desired result is to have a clean bedroom. When we go to work, the desired result is to be paid. While this is good in certain aspects, it is equally as important to act without expecting any desired results at all.
The Solution:
The greatest success in your life will come from doing things outside of your comfort zone without any desired goal or expectations. The foundation of growth, passion, and change comes from complete uncertainty. You may not achieve success every time you try something completely different, but it will force you to stretch yourself. Once you stretch yourself, you will never go back to the shape you were before. How can you start doing something completely out of your comfort zone today? Try meetup.com and attend an event you know nothing about but may be interested in.
