Think for Yourself; You May Like It!
Did you know that it is admirable to admit you are wrong about something, thereby evolving your thinking? I know you may not see that taking place these days as much as you'd hoped. As a teen, I had been conditioned to think, "I am 16 now; I'm a man. I don't need to know another thing." I had seen that example within my own family, and I assumed everybody thought that way. When I had different ideas and thoughts, I was quickly told, "only troublemakers do that," and "if you want to get on, you have to learn to fit in." It took me a lifetime to realize that this conditioning was, as they say, all bollocks! I always disliked being "Another Brick in the Wall."
Wanting to fit in led me to Grammar school, and it continued to the Civil Service; enough said. At the same time, I rode with motorcycle MCs most of my life as a replacement family with different rules, but still rules. Finally, I joined a church that insisted that fitting in meant quiet obedience and loyalty first. There's more, but I won't bore you to tears. I think you get my point.
This system has evolved over centuries to control the majority of any population for the benefit of the minority. All conditioning means thought control of some sort. If you rock the boat in any way, you might be thrown overboard. So for most, it's simpler to fit in. It must be the way. Right? No one wants to drown alone.
Many people refuse point blank to have an open mind. Many people think they do, but not so. An open mind is not just reading your books; it's reading all books. It's not just talking with people who look or act like you. It's talking and mixing with people that don't. I'm not just talking color or race here. I'm also talking about disabled people, people with mental health challenges, and those who may live different lifestyles. Take the time to chat with some homeless people or those aged and alone. You might learn or, even better, unlearn a lot. It is a remarkable feat to unlearn something. It's hard not to evolve naturally if you feed your mind with many foods, not just one.
Knowledge is the key, but knowledge alone is useless. One has to consider and contemplate what you have learned to develop your ideas and thoughts better. Shock news now! You are not automatically meant to copy your parents, family, work colleagues, neighbors, or religious congregation. Learning to research, debate civilly, and critically assess what is being taught to you is essential to being human. What if they happen to be wrong? Faith in something should not mean throwing your whole life away in the hope you are right. See for yourselves, and changing your thinking is more than okay. It is vital.
Curiosity and openness will allow you to walk in another's shoes, even for a short moment. Stepping in another's shoes of your own free choice is a feat to be congratulated on. If our religious and political leaders could do that, as I said, just for a moment, it would change the world. However, even if they are not courageous enough, we can. We are not meant to be sheep; we are meant to be shepherds. Our minds developed over eons so that we could survive. We are supposed to think for ourselves. It's called survival. A thinking mind is a caring mind. It is for our protection and long-term benefit. Try it; you will like it. I promise.
