Is that Right or True?
It is so much fun to be right. At least, in the short term. That feeling of knowing what the absolute right choice is can provide a feeling of superiority. Being superior allows us to peer down our noses and appear to be taller and better. The physically emotional wave we ride gives us credence as an influencer and the powerful feeling of being someone who knows stuff. Better than the average bear.
Right vs True
But right is subjective sometimes. It has an opinion attached to it. We don’t all agree on what is exactly right. Scientists disagree on the results of an experiment as a natural process. Math is a little closer to our idea of getting a right answer. No wonder we study these in school for so long. Doing the right thing has many variations. What happens when we get out into the big wide world gets really confusing and often provides the basis for a lot of disagreements. Disagreements in themselves are not bad if we can agree on having a real discussion of the parameters. We fight for truth.
True to the core
We tend to agree more to a truth if we like it. It’s difficult to hold onto someone else’s truth if it doesn’t match ours. It is a beautiful part of our brain to be so attached to our own beliefs even when they can be disproven. Nobody likes to be incorrect. And no one should be called wrong; that’s a very demeaning word that tends to wound. Truth looks like a super power but there are even controversies over who is more powerful in the superhero world. No clear true winner. But we have evidence in our minds to persuade us who is really the winner.
Convince Me
We all are entitled to our own thoughts. We can all agree that it would be better if we accepted the fact that the world would be a much more boring place if we all agreed on everything. And we would all be driving the same car, cheering for the same team, liking the same foods. So, it must also be true that our differences provide excitement. Having some curiosity about what others hold as true gives them the feeling of right and should be what we discuss. Understanding another’s beliefs gives us a chance to examine our own thoughts to determine if they truly are for real. Being right doesn’t last long and can feel less collaborative. Knowing the truth brings us together.
Do you need to be right in certain specific circumstances? What feeling comes from being right vs true? Is it possible to bridge between our need to be right vs true?
