I’d Rather Be Wrong When Everyone Wants to Be Right
I’ve been debating whether or not to write about this subject, especially as a business owner in California. But if reading it gives you some tools or brings you a bit of comfort, then it’s already an accomplishment. If you’re like me and want to be mentally stimulated — and why not perhaps learn something new — this blog is for you.
We are all familiar with the saying, “Change starts with us.”
Being in the fitness industry, I have a passion for helping people live healthier lives. However, wellness goes beyond just our bodies. Mental health is just as important, and I believe there’s no better time to focus on it. Whether it’s nutrition, stress management, or exercise, how we handle obstacles, push through our workouts, navigate disagreements, and make choices determines whether we achieve our goals.
There are many ways to define mental health, but I believe it starts with how we talk to ourselves and interact and communicate with others. Mental health is peace. And like many other things, peace is earned — even negotiated.
One way we achieve peace is by being flexible — not just understanding how and why we think the way we do, but also trying to understand others, even when we disagree with them. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes — not to agree with them, but simply to see what they see and where they’re coming from.
Do you notice how much time I spent preparing this topic? That’s because it’s sensitive. But the subject itself isn’t sensitive — people are. Especially when it comes to politics.
Like most of you, I often find myself disagreeing with others on political issues. I don’t know exactly why, but when that happens, people seem so convinced that their opinion is the absolute truth.
I can hear you saying, ‘Facts are facts,’ and I agree with you. But it’s also a fact that you often cannot educate or change someone’s opinion just by disagreeing with them — especially if they are not flexible or willing to learn from you and hear you out.
The way some people speak, you’d think what they believe is almost guaranteed to happen. On top of everything, most become very emotional. But as with sports, there are always winners and losers. Some people are right, and some are wrong. Sometimes, we figure out who’s who quickly; other times, it takes a long time. That’s life, I suppose.
Friction isn’t always bad — it’s often necessary for growth, change, and progress. That’s why two teams compete in the finals: so the best one wins — or at least, one wins. Just like a plane needs friction to take off and muscles need resistance to grow, we need opposing opinions to find the best solutions. And when we have two opposing sides, almost always, one will take a back seat while the other prevails.
But instead of seeing “being wrong” as an opportunity to discover a better way, we treat it as a loss — as if finding the cure for something isn’t good just because we weren’t the ones who found it. But a cure is a cure, no matter who finds it. I’m sure you agree with me so far. Well, I have a feeling that’s about to change.
When it comes to politics — or any sensitive topic, for that matter — we suddenly say, “This is different.” Now, our opinion is no longer just an opinion; it’s evidence. The same thing happens when people talk about their limitations and struggles. They’re convinced — and vehemently try to convince others — that they don’t have time to exercise, for example, or that their struggle with maintaining good habits is unlike anyone else’s. We become so committed to defending our limitations at any cost, as if being “right” matters more than getting actual results — even when our mindset can be destructive to our personal growth, or our opinion could mean the destruction of our country, and even the world.
At the end of the day, we all want the same things: a strong, safe, and prosperous country; to lose weight; to make more money; to be happy. And I think we can all agree that there’s more than one way to get there. But the only way to figure out the best or fastest way to achieve our goals is through communication and open-mindedness.
Too often, we’re blinded by our attachment to being right or by our long history of struggles — whether with fitness, habits, or personal growth — that we fail to see that multiple paths can lead to success. And more importantly, that other perspectives matter too. When I notice that my opinions on world events or personal beliefs are causing me stress, I try to find ways to feel better. I start by considering the possibility that I might not be right — especially when, first, I can’t do anything to change the situation, and second, believing I’m right doesn’t actually make me feel any better. I then try to defend my opposition’s point of view. How could they be right? What am I not seeing?
When that happens, although it can sometimes be difficult, I ask others for their perspectives, trying to understand why they feel the way they do — even when our views are completely opposite. It’s similar to when someone struggles to find time to exercise. Instead of looking for solutions, they convince themselves that they ‘don’t have time to exercise’ simply because there are only 24 hours in a day — as if everyone else has extra hours and they were just unlucky to be stuck with 24.
It all comes down to our mental health. Some things we cannot change. However, one thing we can do is look for ways to find peace of mind. If being right means more stress, worry, and heartbreak, I’ll pass. I’d rather be wrong. Can someone please prove me wrong? Especially when I’m stuck with a president I don’t support, attached to a lifestyle that doesn’t serve my goals, or staring at a bowl of candy that’s calling my name.
We find ourselves very involved not only financially and physically but also emotionally in politics, sports, and even gambling. For some reason, you can agree with me that often they all feel very similar to each other.
So, what do we need to do when things don’t go our way? Move on. Find ways to relieve the stress and focus on the things we can do, that are under our control. At the end of the day, what matters more: being “right” or actually living a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life?
If we focus less on proving a point and more on making progress, we just might find that peace of mind we’ve been searching for all along is closer than we think. Embracing the principle that “change starts with us,” we can transform our perspectives and actions to cultivate a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
Have a blessed, stress-free day.