Strategy for Cognitive Dissonance

With so much polarization and division, which isn’t going away, it is helpful to have this strategy to create more harmony and wellness within self.

This is going to be far easier than you may think. But your brain and your storyteller part of the brain, may find it incredibly uncomfortable.

Ready?

1. Pick a topic or idea you are very passionate about, the more divisive the better.
2. Ask yourself, “what if I’m wrong?”
3. Observe anything you experience (shutting down, retreating, anger, tension, fear, etc).
4. Tell yourself that it could be ok to be wrong, even about this.
5. Tell yourself that it’s better to know the truth.
6. Decide you want to be open to truth, even if it means you are wrong.
7. Be forgiving, of self and of others. Everyone here is doing the best we can with what we know.

When one is radicalized, it is easy to feel like a different person, like something has taken over, with almost little control to even acknowledge the intelligence, reasoning and insights held by those with opposing views.

I hope this helps. Cheers to being wrong on certain things, big or small. It isn’t the end of the world.

With love,
Jill