There is so much that I do not know, and I have learned to embrace that.
I do not mean that in the sense that I choose to be willfully ignorant, but that I choose to continually learn from others who do know. Not knowing everything means I have limitless opportunities to learn and grow.
And it was the acceptance of this that truly freed me from so much fear, anger, and, eventually, partisanship.
Learning to trust the expertise of those who are truly experts freed me from simply believing whatever my political party told me to believe. Recognizing that they were trying to keep us outraged by spreading misinformation and outright lies about issues or people (AND making tons of money off of that outrage) stopped me in my tracks.
By recognizing that there is always something to learn, and by listening to those who hold different perspectives than I do to understand where they are coming from, I found freedom. I found peace.
As it turns out, those who think differently than me are not usually my enemy and I have much to learn from their journeys and experiences.
Have you ever sat down and had a genuine conversation with someone in the opposite party? Have you asked them questions to learn more about why they believe what they do? Have you truly listened to understand? If you have, I think you will agree that the other party usually isn’t trying to “destroy the country” but simply has a different view of what our priorities should be and how we should accomplish them.
For those who have been following me over the past five years, you know I have written a great deal about partisanship, about learning to listen. The root of my growth has been realizing that I could be wrong about anything at any given moment. Remembering that I am human and make mistakes, along with learning to embrace humility as a strength, and not a weakness has changed everything for me. And it can do the same for you.
If I have a question about something in a field in which I have friends who are experts, I believe that deferring to them and seeking their wisdom is also a way of loving my neighbor. We all love to feel needed and important and to feel like our knowledge and experiences are heard and validated. That’s why I haven’t tried to become an expert on epidemiology – instead, I elevate the voices of those who are experts. Elevating each other’s voices is so important and helps us remain connected in a world increasingly torn apart.
I think we all need to take some time to love our neighbors by embracing their knowledge and points of view. For one, an educated society is imperative to fighting fascism and we need that more than ever right now.
Let others speak wisdom and knowledge into your life. Don’t do your own research in the conspiracy theory sense – read from actual experts, check out their sources, and listen to their voices.
There is no shame in saying the words I don’t know. Those three words, accompanied by “but I will find out” can set you free from pride, arrogance, and selfishness in profound ways. Even better, saying I was wrong when you learn the truth can make all the difference.
Continuing to hold to an opinion for the sake of being right or prideful because you don’t want to change your mind or be educated about a matter is an unfortunately common practice in the United States. And it’s one that I am continually learning to let go.
What does this look like in real life?
A practical application for this is in media consumption:
- Who are you getting your news from?
- What is their objective in presenting the narrative in the way that they do?
- Is it partisan media or is it legacy media?
- Are they making money off of creating outrage in their viewers?
- Are they benefitting in some way by making you angry?
- Do they retract statements when it is revealed that they were wrong, or do they double down?
There are so many things to consider when deciding who to believe. Believe those who are experts in their field, who have sources to back up what they are saying. If more than one outlet is reporting the same information, the more likely it is to be true.
In specific terms, right now we need a society willing to challenge what is being told to them by the executive branch and those affiliated with it. Do not just believe what Trump and Musk are saying – their claims have been fact-checked by numerous sources and most have been found to be exaggerated or outright false. Take time to listen to those who are alarmed by what is happening. Learn from actual experts in the Constitution, don’t just listen to what your party is saying.
It is okay to change your mind when presented with new information. It’s a difficult habit to break, but being okay with saying “I was wrong” is so freeing.
Remember that your party is not immune from bad decisions or even evil. Your political party is not your identity and is not above criticism. Humans make mistakes, and power corrupts. If that is indeed what is happening, it’s time to be American, not partisan.
Be willing to learn. Listen to understand. Give credit where it’s due. Communicate with kindness, empathy, and curiosity. All of these things show love to our neighbors and make us better humans.
Even So, Joy 