The Hidden Power of Intellectual Humility

It's about having respect for someone who holds a different viewpoint. Respect is typically defined by things we would never do, but its true meaning is not to take away someone else's ability to express themselves. It is to make the other person feel significant by listening without interrupting and not dismissing what is said.

When a notion we come across is disgusting to us, it's difficult to do so. Alternatively, we may face the same challenge while interacting with someone who does not respect others. However, we must remember that everyone has the right to free speech, even when listening to someone who has the most brutal and harsh opinions. Of course, morally universal building blocks exist in people. We already have a powerful trump card in the fight against ideologies that endanger human life, deceive the masses or individuals, or stifle social freedom.

The second stage keeps us from shutting ourselves up to alternate ways of thinking by not being overly confident in our own way of thinking. A person who is too sure of himself, his feelings, and his beliefs, stops learning. When our brain is correct about anything, it feels rewarded. We praise each other whenever we are correct. In our minds, this encourages the desire to be "correct at all costs." In many ways, our culture teaches us to avoid making mistakes. The educational system encourages students with high GPAs; social media allows us to create the illusion of living a perfect life. Instead of inquiring and asking, we encourage youngsters for offering correct answers. The winners are congratulated. We believe that the method someone employs to accomplish anything is the sole correct method.

It's also worth a shot to separate egos from academic understanding. It is a practise that we may simply implement when we stop developing thoughts about concepts, despite the fact that it is easy to say and difficult to perform. It is a far more serene way to simply look at 'what is' from various aspects rather than fabricating reasons to defend what we find personal. But first, we must confront our ego. When we strive to recognise his impulses, we get a harsh awakening. When we examine our reactions to every person, event, and feeling we experience in the outside world, we can see how we interact with our ego. Our tensions, unexpected body movements, spots where we say "I feel" instead of "I think," and our judgments are all indicators of this. We can pause and see how we personalise concepts when we capture those moments.

It's also critical that we have a desire to broaden our horizons. It enables us to evaluate alternative viewpoints, recognise that we may be mistaken, and not take ideas personally. At this point, we can try to be in strange places to reflect on our point of view, read books we've never read, and converse with others who hold opposing viewpoints. When we visit places where people are alienated, the lens through which we view the world becomes less attached to our precious identities. When we travel to places where the culture is different from our own, we are frequently confronted with contradictions in our beliefs. Our cognitive flexibility will improve as a result of these paradoxes.

The crucial thing to remember is that intellectual humility does not imply abandoning ideas we care about and believe in. It simply implies that we should choose our views carefully, be open to correcting and exploring their errors, and never cease questioning our own motivations. This point of view; it is a powerful method capable of laying the foundations for our ability to live in harmony. Despite the fact that our culture does not value humility, we can stop the cycle.

---