Conviction Vs Arrogance

To live a life of conviction is a good thing. Going on swaying whichever way the wind blows without being clear about oneself and what one stands for is a sort of mental weakness in my book. So if you are convinced you are right about something, stand your ground no matter who is standing in opposition.

But this same capability of holding on to a conviction can turn into arrogance if one doesn't carry a spirit of humility alongside.

One of the clearest expressions of humility and humanity is to accept when one is wrong (when one realizes so for himself or herself and not just because someone else says so :)!) and change for the better. As soon as we realize we have made a mistake, we simply accept it and correct ourselves. That's it. Plain, simple and gracious. No drama.

With such a mindset, much is possible. There is no limit to how much we can evolve and how fast we can do so. And in the process, we do more good to the world and less harm. It's a win-win situation.

I often come across people who can't do this. It's almost as if they feel that there is some victory to be had in sticking to a stance even after it is clear that they are wrong. There is nothing to be gained with such an attitude. One only delays one's own evolution as well as creates discomfort and stress in one's environment.

This is true for everyone, but I think it's particularly important for people in positions of power to bear this in mind. In fact I think it's critical for people holding positions of power to keep some people nearby who aren't afraid to disagree and voice alternate opinions. At the end of the day you have all the authority to take decisions based on your best understanding anyway. And once you take a decision, sure, stick to it. That brings stability. But going over different viewpoints before taking a decision can be a good thing in my book. It can serve as a very useful check against moving in incorrect directions for long periods of time : ourselves as well as the systems we govern and administer.

Am I making sense here?