I stumbled across a YouTube video that made me shake my head. It was titled, “200 Proofs Earth is Not a Spinning Ball.” (Spoiler alert: It is.) In the video, the creator gave a bunch of reasons why Earth isn’t a sphere, including brilliant reasoning like “the horizon is always flat.” I’m ashamed to admit I spent more time than necessary watching it, then researched Flat Earth conventions, which, sadly, still meet. I had the pleasure of speaking with an actual astronaut who spent nearly an entire year of her life living in space. She assured me Earth is round. So, don’t take my word for it. Take hers.
As easy as it is to pick on the folks who think the earth looks like a cosmic pancake, I have no room to talk. I’m equally rigid with my opinions. I dig in my heels, plug my ears, and ignore the possibility that I might be the W-word. (Wrong.) It hurts, but we must open our minds to the possibility that we aren’t always correct. Here are 7 signs you might be wrong.
1. You say “Because I said so” constantly.
I heard this a lot growing up. It communicates that no other points of view are allowed. Citing your authority isn’t convincing. Instead, be ready to defend your words or actions, and don’t just insist your way is the only good one. Prepare to admit when you’re wrong.
2. You make up your mind beforehand.
Life is all about knowing when to pivot. Things go wrong. Situations change. You can’t close yourself off to the idea that Plan A isn’t foolproof. If you’re reluctant to change course, you’re probably too predetermined for your own good.
3. You refuse to listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” I want to be considered wise. This means I need to listen more than I speak and ingest the wisdom, life experiences, and perspectives of others. Shutting out the advice of others is stubbornness masked as resoluteness.
4. You ingest information from only one source.
We need to not consume just one news source and instead try to find a balanced perspective. Trusting a single source is like wearing blinders. When you are only getting one viewpoint, you have a limited view of the issue. You’re not getting the full picture.
5. You think you’re never wrong.
I’ve always liked the quote, “To err is human.” We lie to ourselves if we believe we’re never wrong. It’s very prideful thinking. James 4:6 says it plainly: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” If you think you’re infallible, think again. People who can’t admit that they might be wrong usually avoid situations where they could be.
6. You think you’re the smartest in your group.
One of the most-quoted lines of scripture is Proverbs 3:5, which says, “Lean not on your own understanding.” That’s countercultural. The world says, “Find your own truth instead of THE truth.” That’s peak arrogance. Instead, deflate your ego and try to surround yourself with smart people who sharpen you. Listen to others. Get out of your online echo chamber. Try to understand different perspectives. See what you can learn from others, and admit when you’re wrong. Admitting mistakes is not a sign of weakness.
Sound off: How do you determine what is true and what is false?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “How does it make you feel to find out you were wrong about something?”