Better to be fine than wanting to be right
Fourth of the articles on the Catalonia-Spain conflict from the point of view of Happiness. Or how to be happy despite the political circumstances in which we live.
I am convinced that the different strategies that help us to be happier must be applied to the different vicissitudes of life in order to maintain happiness in the midst of so much restlessness. Next, I will explain my vision of this topic through eight of them.
8 strategies that I will comment on 8 different articles:
- Reality and its lack of acceptance
- We do not control anything
- Binary thinking: with me or against me
- Better to be fine than wanting to be right
- To desire or not to desire a nation, that is the question
- The pleasure of a nation or the absence of suffering a conflict: you choose
- Life is not fair. Why has only one politician made a good choice?
- Why 40% is a political issue and 60% is a problem of poor Communications
4. Better to be fine than wanting to be right
«The need to be right, the sign of a vulgar mind.» Albert Camus
Wanting to be right is carrying a heavy backpack.
Reality is what it is, but we do not perceive it as it is, if not, as we are. The problem is that we are not aware of this fact. It is what is called Cognitive Fundamental Error: we are not aware that we are constantly interpreting reality, what is happening, and that there are many other ways to interpret it, almost as many as individuals perceive it.
In addition, when we believe we know the truth, most likely, we are not being objective because when we relate to the environment there is what is called:
- Expectancy Effect or Confirmation Bias: everything we perceive is modulated by our expectations. We see things as we expect to see them and leave in the background what we have no interest or we disagree with.
- Direct or Naive Realism: theory of perception that affirms that the senses provide us with direct awareness of the world in a one-on-one relationship. What we perceive is the right thing to do.
But, the world is not like we think we see it, and that brings us problems, mainly when other people interpret this same world according to their stories, their senses, their needs, their biases, their objectives, their experiences …
Wanting to be right is, most of the time, a waste of energy and time, given that, perceiving reality, what it really is, is not possible for me or for the other. Those who believe in possession of the truth, not only are arrogant, but also ignorant.
Given the subjectivity of reality, would it then be worthwhile, to discuss, to confront, to break, to think differently, to believe that one is in possession of reason?
We could try to stop discuss for a moment, to argue; give up wanting to be right at all costs, to impose our ideas; stop, silence the noise and listen to our heart before our brain. The brain argues and wins, but sometimes our heart regrets the «victory» obtained.
Dialogue, empathy, attentive listening, would help us to better understand the point of view of the other and it will help us to cede spaces, to model ideas, to give up part of our objectives, and to build bridges… to remain in the house of the peace.
And you, in what house do you want to be in, in the house of reason or in the house of peace? Think about it, your Happiness depends on it.
#BetalltoBlack entry 4 of 8
