Changing Minds

If you can change a mind, you can change a world. In humanity, choices start with the mind. From plots to plans to ideas about policy to art to strategy, the human mind is the source of decisions and their reason/justification. Our thoughts provide the framework and incentive for much of our actions.

    Even when the incentives to our choices are financial or survival based, our minds still weigh the pros and cons of the decision and we make the decision based on our mind's processing of the situation and how our decision will affect our priorities and goals.

      The greatest feats achieved in human history has started as an idea of a mind. So, too, have been the worst things ever done by humanity. I take the viewpoint that all of existence is the conceptualization of an infinite mind.

      The source of many problems in humanity is the problem of mental stubbornness. It's when humans get "stuck in their ways," so to speak, and when they decide to believe something or subscribe to an ideal or worldview about a particular issue, situation, or the world as a whole, they will dig their heels into their viewpoint or belief and may be extremely difficult to persuade to think differently and change their minds even if you present compelling alternative or contrary evidence.

This happens all the time with many different types of people, ranging from the stubborn toddler who wants to play with a specific toy and only that toy, or person of power making a decision that may have detrimental consequences but refuses to see an alternative approach. Doctors, politicians, leaders of all shapes and occupations, they all can be victims of mental stubbornness, where they won't change belief or perspective very easily.

     The problem with mental stubbornness is pretty self-evident. It can lead to poor decisions and poor outcomes of situations or plans. If someone can't change their mind and change their perspective, they are effectively a mental slave to the belief or presumption that has hijacked their mind. Narrowmindedness and mental stubbornness are some of the defining traits of someone in a state of cognitive bondage to an idea or belief.

        Changing minds can be difficult. Forcing someone to see another perspective usually is met with significant resistance. Unfortunately, if you can't change minds, you can't alter the often destructive courses that bad ideas and destructive beliefs lead the people they take over down.  Changing minds is essential in an effort to protect people, save lives, or change the world for the better.   

       The best way to change a mind is open it. 

Some of the worst atrocities and crimes ever committed in human history have been enabled by narrowmindedness and blind, uncompromising loyalty. That's how despots and tyrants and devious people get their power. They exploit the narrowmindedness, base emotions, and mental stubbornness of a large group of people and manipulate them to serve their own ends and agendas. 

Dictators don't get their power by appealing to the open minded. Open minded people generally don't want dictatorships. Narrowminded people blindly empower them without even realizing the long term costs and the bondage they just put themselves under.

Even though there is a whole argument that talks about the "blind leading the blind" and the folly that comes with blind demagogues leading a flock of sheepish people, but history gives many warnings about the dangers of such an arrangement. 

Evil thrives in the minds of the blind. Some of the worst things imaginable have been done by a narrowminded group of people manipulated into thinking an atrocity was justified by a well-spoken and hypnotizing manipulator.

This speaks to the particularly valuable ability to change people's minds. To get people to think a little differently. To open minds to new possibilities. To even "blow up" a mind here and there. You can save lives by changing minds. You can save societies from going down the paths of despotism and authoritarianism. You can even save the world if you change, open, or "blow up" the right mind.