You've Changed Your Mind!

In a discussion not too long ago, someone said they had difficulty trusting me because I'm constantly changing my mind.

It's not often that I get offended, but this was one of the few times.

At least, at first.

My gut reaction was, "WTF do you mean I'm always changing my mind?"

"What am I, a flip-flopper over here? You saying I'm like John Kerry?"

I was defensive because, in the conversation's broader context, the statement was constructively critical, with a firm emphasis on critical.

As in, it was an insult.

But my defensiveness passed quickly, and I'm no longer bothered.

Because I do change my mind.

Often.

And in my humble opinion, that's a good thing.

I've known one of the people I have to deal with regularly since high school, and today she is nearly identical to the person she was back then. Except for an updated wardrobe, dealing with her is like traveling back in time.

To this day, I know what she will say and how she will react before I have a conversation with her. You can name any topic - even one that didn't exist 30 years ago, and there's a 90% chance I can tell you where she stands.

It's maddening at times.

But it's her life, so she can go about it as she pleases.

As for me, I want to change.

I want to grow and develop.

I want to reconsider.

I want to evolve.

My friend Steven was over last week and spotted a cicada on my fence that had just shed its skin. They do that because their exoskeleton is hard and has no room for growth.

If they couldn't shed the old one, they'd die.

The cicada might be my spirit animal, then, because I feel like if I can't grow then I would die.

I mentioned last week that I was packing up my office. Among the stuff packed and boxes and moved across the street are hundreds of books on topics such as copywriting, sales, racial inequities, bomb shelters, and music careers.

Each one of them has contributed to the reshaping of my worldview.

In the same vein, thoughtful conversations with others - especially with those who know much more about the topic than I do - have shaped my opinions on business, politics, priorities, family life, and more.

Sometimes, my opinion is validated.

Others, my opinion is challenged.

Either way, I welcome the process.

If I were to die with the same worldview, outlook, and opinions I held in the first 20 or 30 years of my life, I would consider that a failure.

Because the truth is, I didn't know shit from Shinola back then.

So if someone has difficulty trusting me because of that, then so be it.

I say that's their problem, not mine.