Change - #23
“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck.” — Mandy Hale
The Setup
We’ve all done it. We walk into a situation already convinced we know how it’s going to play out. Why? Because we’ve seen “it” before.
We build expectations based on prior experience, and most of the time, that works.
But here’s what we forget: Not all situations are the same.
Life is less of a playbook and more of a laboratory. If you treat it like a script you’ve already memorized, you’ll miss what’s actually happening in front of you.
Life Is an Experiment, Not a Manual
When approaching a new situation, you should absolutely bring your past experience with you. That’s called wisdom. Problem is, wisdom becomes arrogance when you assume the outcome before you test it.
In an experiment, you form a hypothesis. You don’t form a conclusion.
You say: “Based on what I’ve seen before, I expect this to happen.”
Then you test it.
Here’s the hard part: You have to be willing to accept the results—even if they contradict your expectation.
Most people don’t do this.They bend the results to fit their story. They ignore evidence that challenges them. They double down on being “right” instead of being accurate. That’s where growth dies.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Mind
For many, changing their mind feels like losing.
It feels like admitting they were wrong. It feels like their identity is under attack.
In reality, the opposite is true. Changing your mind when new information presents itself is a sign of intelligence, humility, and strength.
Weak people cling to old perspectives because it’s comfortable. Strong people refine their thinking because it’s honest.
You should be excited to change your mind. It means you’re learning. It means you’re paying attention. It means you’re not sleepwalking through life on autopilot.
The Danger of the Script
The real danger isn’t being wrong. It’s living your life on a script you wrote years ago and never revisited.
You assume:
“I’ve seen this before”
“This is how it is.”
“There can only be one solution/outcome”
And you stop observing. You stop asking questions. You stop learning. That’s how we stagnate without realizing it. We aren’t stuck because new situations stopped presenting themselves. We are stuck because we assumed we had already seen everything.
Reserve the Right to Grow
You should feel comfortable saying:
“I used to think that.”
“I’ve learned something new.”
“I see this differently now.”
That’s not weakness. That’s progress. Your perspective today should be sharper than it was five years ago. If it’s not, you haven’t been paying attention.
Kicker here is that this type of growth comes with some pain. You are going to have to allow yourself to not be the expert, and to not know everything.
Final Thought
Treat life like an experiment. Form a hypothesis. Test. Adjust. Repeat.
Don’t be loyal to old versions of yourself. Be loyal to the pursuit of truth and growth.
You always have the right to change your mind.
Additional Resources
Book: Think Again by Adam Grant — Buy here
A masterclass on the value of rethinking and intellectual flexibility.
Podcast: Knowledge Project – Morgan Housel: Wealth is What You Have Minus What You Want – Listen here
Stoic Quote of the Month: “If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake—I’ll gladly change. It is the truth I seek.” – Marcus Aurelius
The goal is not to be right. The goal is to be correct.