Look, nobody likes being wrong. But what if I told you being wrong is a superpower in disguise?
When the facts change, I change my mind — what do you do? — John Maynard Keynes
So, what do you do when the facts change?
If your answer is “dig in your heels,” congratulations, you’re a victim of confirmation bias, and your ego just hijacked your growth.
Here’s the thing: realizing you’re wrong about something means you’re evolving.
You’re learning, improving, and inching closer to becoming the best version of yourself.
Want proof? Look at scientists. The best of the best have been wrong, repeatedly.
Remember when people thought the Earth was the center of the universe? Heliocentric vs. geocentric debate, anyone?
In 1633, the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life due to his belief that the Sun — not the Earth — was the center of the universe.
Turns out, the Catholic Church’s view of the Earth being the center was a bit off. Let’s just say it wasn’t the last time a big institution was proven wrong (wink, nudge).
Or how about the time when the scientist with the ‘Would this hairstyle ever be wrong?’ vibe actually got it wrong?
Einstein debated Niels Bohr over quantum mechanics and the observer effect.
The observer effect is the idea that the mere act of observing something can change its’ behavior — a concept in quantum mechanics.
Einstein struggled deeply with this but there is reproducible science — most famous being the double slit experiment — proving this to be true.
Einstein famously stated, ‘God does not play dice with the universe.’ But Niels Bohr’s Copenhagen interpretation embraced the observer effect, proving that even Einstein could be wrong.
A stark reminder that people with funky hairstyles can still be wrong — I am still struggling with this one.
And guess what? I’ve been wrong too — a lot.
Take my 4 year old son and the whole ‘protein bars aren’t for kids’ situation.
I stopped him from eating them because, you know, protein bars are for bodybuilders, right?
He hit me with, ‘But don’t kids need protein too?’
Pause. Blink. Huh. The kid had a point.
In that moment, I realized I hadn’t really thought it through.
He was teaching me to reconsider my assumptions — something I’d prided myself on doing.
And just like that, he won the right to a quarter of a protein bar every once in a while. I stood corrected.
The moral? Be open to other perspectives.
Next time you find yourself in a heated debate, pause and ask yourself: what if I’m wrong? This small shift can open up room for real growth.
You might learn something you didn’t even know you didn’t know.
There’s no shame in being wrong.
In fact, those who can admit it gracefully are the ones who will move ahead faster. They’ll pivot, grow, and adapt — fluid, like a block of melting ice.
So, here’s your new mantra: fall in love with being wrong.
Because every time you’re wrong, you’re getting a little more right.