THE VALUE OF CHANGING YOUR MIND
Changing your mind is not weakness. Sometimes it is the clearest sign that you are still thinking for yourself.
One of the strangest criticisms in modern politics is that people are accused of weakness when they change their minds.
As though the highest virtue is to pick a position and cling to it forever, regardless of what happens afterwards.
I have never understood that way of thinking.
Life teaches us new things every day.
We gain experience. We meet different people. We learn new information. We see the consequences of decisions we once believed were right.
Why would we expect our opinions to remain frozen in time?
To me, changing your mind is not a sign of weakness.
It is a sign that you are willing to examine your own beliefs honestly.
That does not mean abandoning principles.
In fact, I would argue the opposite.
Strong principles should guide us. They should help us decide what matters and what does not. They should provide a foundation.
But principles and opinions are not the same thing.
My principles have remained remarkably consistent throughout my life.
I believe in free speech.
I believe in equality before the law.
I believe government exists to serve the people.
I believe communities matter.
I believe in treating people fairly.
I believe in treating people with respect, whether I agree with them or not.
Those principles have not changed.
What has changed at times are my views about which individuals, organisations or ideas best reflect those principles.
And that is where independent thinking becomes important.
Too often politics encourages tribalism.
People are expected to defend every decision made by their chosen side and condemn every decision made by the other.
That may be good for party politics.
It is not good for honest thinking.
It is also not good for how we treat one another.
Disagreement is a normal part of life.
It is a normal part of politics too.
The ability to listen to someone, respect them and engage with them in good faith, even when you disagree, is becoming increasingly rare.
Yet it is one of the most important qualities we can have.
The ability to say:
“I was wrong.”
“I have changed my view.”
“I have learned something.”
is not something to be ashamed of.
It is something to value.
None of us have all the answers.
None of us see the full picture.
The best we can do is remain open to learning, remain honest with ourselves and have the courage to follow the evidence where it leads.
Even when it is uncomfortable.
Especially when it is uncomfortable.
Because the people who never change their minds are not always the strongest.
Sometimes they are simply the most afraid to admit they might be wrong.