I watched a Taylor Mali video this morning in which he said “Changing your mind is one of the best ways to see if you still have one”. Whoa.
Change has been at the forefront of my mind for the last few weeks. We fear change for so many reasons. In particular, I agonize over change. I make endless pro-con lists, get “advice” from as many people as possible, and watch entire seasons of shows I don’t really like on Netflix, all in the name of “trying to make a change”. (Okay, that last one doesn’t really help, besides providing a helpful distraction so I don’t *really* have to think about all the things I’d like to change.)
For whatever reason, I see changing your mind as inherently negative. I have a deep fear of appearing flaky. Of others looking at me and realizing that I don’t have strong core beliefs. Of realizing that I don’t have any idea of what I’m doing in the world.
I look at others who change their minds and sometimes think “good for them” and sometimes think “what the hell are they doing? Shouldn’t they have it figured out by now?” I can’t seem to give myself or others very much grace when it comes to change.
Taylor Mali’s idea that changing your mind is a great thing, something to be celebrated, is beautiful. He embraces this in his students because it means that they are refining their ideas, shaping themselves, doing revision on what they believe and who they want to be. If this is admirable in a teenager, why is it so hard to embrace in a 20-something?
At what age am I supposed to have it all figured out? I feel both too young and too old at once. Too old to be changing my mind. Too young not to.
Link to Taylor Mali’s video on YouTube here in case you want to check it out yourself: Taylor Mali: “Like Lilly Like Wilson”
About Post Author
