I remember one day I was talking to my best friend about a decision that I made and wishing that I had not made said decision. I was going on and on about how I should’ve done things differently and how frustrated I was that now I had to live with this decision. Then she said something that was so simple but also mind blowing. She said, “It’s okay to change your mind.” Literally in that moment I thought I just had to live with that decision forever. It did not even occur to me that I could in this moment change my mind from what I decided upon a week ago.
For me, being seen as authentic and sure of myself meant that whenever I believed something, or if I made a decision, I had to stick with it. I didn’t want to be seen as wishy-washy, or easily persuaded. The truth is though, as you grow you are inevitably going to learn more if you are truly living. The more you read, the more you study, the more you talk to people from different walks of life, you are going to have more information at your fingertips. This new information will challenge your current beliefs. It is our duty to understand how it fits. Sometimes it will solidify your understanding of what you believe. Other times it will cause you to feel like everything you ever knew was a lie.
When we are confronted with new truth, sometimes we have the tendency to shut it down immediately because it is uncomfortable. We hunker down on our old ideas because that brings us normalcy and makes us look as if we cannot be swayed. Letting go of the fear of being wrong and the fear of being judged by others is a practice we need to take on. Instead of fearing being wrong, we should be grateful for the opportunity to grow and evolve.
The same way you can change your mind on beliefs, you can also change your mind on decisions you have made. If you have said no to something, but after thinking about it you want to say yes, or vice versa. Do it. If you have set rules/boundaries in your relationships and they no longer serve you, change them. If you thought you didn’t like a food, but you want to give it another try. Do it!
Changing your mind does not make you lesser than, or weak. It just shows that you are not living tied down to anything, but open to change as it comes and goes. I’m not saying this is easy by any means. Having to change our minds takes a lot of courage and effort. In the end though, it is freeing. For me, I no longer have to be defined by what I think other people are thinking, and I no longer have to sit with the expectation that I have all of the answers.
*Please note that when I am saying change your mind, I am speaking to the ability you have to change your mind. If you are standing firm on a belief that supports you and doesn’t harm others, I am all here for it! Just like you have the freedom to change your mind, you also have the freedom to stand firmly on your beliefs and decisions as you see fit!
Are you comfortable with changing your mind? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments!
Love y’all!
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