Rigidity of thought – “I’m right!” thinking – tends to embitter one’s life and sour relationships.

A member of the United States Senate, known for his hot temper and acid tongue, exploded one day in mid-session and began to shout, “Half of this Senate is made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!”

All the other Senators demanded that the angry member withdraw his statement, or be removed from the remainder of the session.

After a long pause, the angry member acquiesced. “OK,” he said, “I withdraw what I said. Half of this Senate is NOT made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!”

Did you notice how both of the Senator’s iterations meant the same thing? How many times have you confused yourself with negative affirmations? For example, how many times have you told yourself that you could not do something. Most of the time, such self-defeating affirmations are absolutely false. You aren’t telling yourself the truth.

For example, maybe you’ve told yourself that you can’t stop smoking. The truth is, of course, that you really CAN stop smoking, you just don’t want to. Maybe you’ve told yourself that you can’t possibly get that big contract because… [dozens of reasons why not]. The truth is, you’re AFRAID you won’t get the contract. Or, you believe it is UNLIKELY you’ll get the contract.

The truth is – we don’t know all the possibilities. We too often settle for the tiny bit of information we have at hand believing we have ALL the necessary information to make a solid statement of truth. “I can’t live without her…” Bullsh*t! Of course you can live without her – you just don’t like your vision of how life would be then.

Reason dictates that we consider possibilities – rather than settling on one. It’s the quantum measurement problem in the macro world – whenever you settle on one possibility, the others tend to disappear, leaving only the one you choose. But it does not make it truth!

“Believe nothing. Entertain possibilities.” – Caroline Casey

It’s okay to settle on one possibility to the exclusion of others – it’s the way of life. I’m not suggesting that you go against nature. Rather, I’m suggesting that you continue entertaining other possibilities after you have chosen one. Let yourself be open to alternatives. Rigidity of thought – “I’m right!” thinking – tends to embitter one’s life and sour relationships. Instead, when you are sure you are right, act resolutely yet be flexible enough to entertain alternatives.

You may just find that truth is not half what it’s cracked up to be.