Ever catch yourself holding on to an idea simply because it belongs to you? Or perhaps you’ve come across fresh information that directly conflicts with something you’ve accepted for years, & rather than sincerely weighing it, you’ve reinforced your initial position. We all do this. It’s part of being human to push back against changing our views.
But what if there were a practical, almost step-by-step method to genuinely revisit those long-standing, deeply rooted convictions, particularly when fresh evidence indicates they could be… well, mistaken? Adam Grant’s \”Think Again\” presents an excellent approach to doing precisely that. It’s not about being easily persuaded, but about developing a mindset in which intellectual humility and curiosity take the lead, helping us actively reassess what we believed we understood. This article will walk you through applying some of his central principles to sincerely reconsider a long-held conviction, moving beyond rigidity & toward a more adaptable, receptive way of thinking. Before we even start addressing a long-held conviction, it’s truly essential to understand why changing our perspectives is so difficult to begin with.
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Grant frequently discusses different thinking styles – the preacher, the prosecutor, & the politician – and how these can often prevent us from genuinely reconsidering our views. Identifying these tendencies within ourselves is the first essential move. Recognizing Your Inner Preacher, Prosecutor, & Politician
Consider a conviction you feel strongly about. When someone questions it, what is your first response?
The Preacher: This happens when your conviction seems like an unquestionable truth, and your aim is to defend and proclaim it. You’re not searching for fresh insights; you’re seeking confirmation. When challenged, you might attempt to persuade the other person or reject their viewpoint as mistaken. The Prosecutor: In this case, your conviction becomes a judgment, & anyone who disagrees is \”guilty\” of being mistaken. Your aim shifts to demonstrating their error & winning the debate.
You’ll collect evidence to dismantle their argument, rather than genuinely reassessing your own position. The Politician: With this approach, your conviction revolves around earning approval or preserving your standing within a group. You might modify your position a little to satisfy others, but the deeper motivation isn’t a pursuit of truth; it’s about belonging or gaining acceptance. None of these approaches helps us genuinely reconsider a conviction. They focus on defending, criticizing, or fitting in. To truly \”think again,\” we must move beyond these roles & adopt the perspective of a scientist.
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| Step | Action | Purpose | Example | Metric for Progress |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the Old Belief | Recognize and clearly define the belief you want to reconsider | “I believe I am not good at public speaking.” | Clarity score (1-5) on belief definition |
| 2 | Gather Contradictory Evidence | Collect information or experiences that challenge the old belief | Recall times when public speaking went well | Number of contradictory examples found |
| 3 | Question the Validity | Analyze why the old belief might be inaccurate or outdated | Ask “Is this belief based on facts or assumptions?” | Confidence level in belief accuracy (1-5) |
| 4 | Consider Alternative Perspectives | Explore different viewpoints or explanations | Consider that nervousness is normal and can improve with practice | Number of alternative perspectives identified |
| 5 | Test New Beliefs | Experiment with adopting a revised belief and observe outcomes | Practice public speaking in small groups | Number of practice sessions completed |
| 6 | Reflect and Adjust | Evaluate the impact of the new belief and make adjustments if needed | Journal feelings and performance after each session | Self-reported improvement score (1-5) |
Cultivating the Scientist Mindset
The scientist mindset centers on curiosity, humility, and dedication to truth. A scientist develops a hypothesis, then deliberately searches for evidence that could disprove it, understanding that discovering weaknesses deepens comprehension. This represents a vital change when revisiting old convictions:
Humility: Recognize that you could be mistaken. This isn’t a flaw; it’s an advantage.
It creates opportunities to learn. Curiosity: Rather than defending your position, ask questions. What evidence backs the opposing perspective? What could I be overlooking?
Skepticism: Direct this not only toward other people’s ideas, but also toward your own. Deliberately search for reasons your conviction could be mistaken. By deliberately working to embrace this scientific attitude, you make room mentally to genuinely consider new information without instantly dismissing it or becoming defensive.
It’s a mental preparation exercise for your brain. After laying the groundwork by recognizing your internal biases and striving to adopt a scientist’s perspective, the next move is to define the old conviction you want to revisit clearly and then divide it into its individual components. Pinpointing the Specific Belief
It’s not sufficient to say, \”I want to rethink my political opinions.\” That’s far too general. Choose one particular conviction within that wider area.
For example:
\”I believe that \[specific government policy\] provides the most effective answer to \[social problem\].\”
\”I believe that \[particular investment strategy\] cannot fail.\”
\”I believe that \[my industry’s traditional method\] outperforms every new alternative.\”
The more precise your definition, the simpler it becomes to assess & uncover evidence supporting or challenging it. Put it into words clearly. This process of expression helps clarify exactly what you’re evaluating. Tracing the Origins of the Belief
Now, pause to consider why you believe this. Where did the conviction originate?
Upbringing/Family: Was this something you learned during childhood? Education/Experience: Did you acquire it at school, from a guide, or through something you experienced personally? Social Group/Culture: Is this a widespread conviction in your community, field, or circle of friends? Emotional Connection: Does this conviction meet an emotional need or offer you comfort somehow? Confirmation Bias: Did you come across supporting evidence early on and then mainly look for more information that reinforced it?
Knowing where a conviction comes from doesn’t make it invalid, but it helps you recognize that it’s frequently shaped by circumstances rather than entirely by objective truth. This begins to weaken its hold over you, making it seem less unquestionable. This stage is about developing a broader perspective on your connection to the conviction.
Articulating the Underlying Assumptions and Evidence
Every conviction, regardless of how firmly it’s held, depends on assumptions and interpreted evidence. What are yours? Assumptions: Which basic ideas does your conviction depend on that you may never have openly challenged? For instance, \”This policy will succeed because people always behave logically.\” Or \”This approach is best because it has always worked before.\”
Evidence: Which particular facts, figures, stories, or experiences do you rely on to justify your conviction?
Be truthful & precise. Is it one unforgettable incident? A study you read one time?
Something a colleague you trust shared with you? By setting these out clearly, you establish a focus for examination. You’re transforming the conviction from a vague \”truth\” into a collection of claims that can be tested. This is where the scientist mindset truly begins to take hold. This is the core of thinking again. For most of us, it goes against our instincts, since we naturally gravitate toward information that reinforces what we already believe (confirmation bias).
To genuinely reconsider our views, we need to take the reverse approach. Engaging with Opposing Viewpoints
Don’t simply glance at headlines or brush aside arguments from people whose opinions differ from yours. Make a genuine effort to engage:
Read Deeply: Find articles, books, or research papers that directly question your conviction. Don’t settle for summaries; explore the finer points of the reasoning and the evidence provided.
Listen Actively: When speaking with people who see things differently, sincerely listen to grasp their perspective, rather than simply preparing your counterargument. Ask follow-up questions: \”Could you explain more about why you think that?\” or \”What evidence brought you to that conclusion?\”
Seek Out Diverse Sources: If your news feed or social circle functions as an echo chamber, deliberately broaden it. Follow commentators, groups, or people who present well-supported arguments from another perspective.
Don’t Fear Discomfort: Encountering ideas that challenge your worldview can feel unsettling. Welcome that uneasiness as a sign of development, not a danger. The aim here isn’t to agree, but to comprehend. You’re charting the range of alternative interpretations and supporting evidence. Looking for Weaknesses in Your Own Arguments
Now, direct that critical perspective toward yourself. Imagine you’re a prosecutor, but your own conviction is the accused.
What are the most serious weaknesses in the evidence supporting your position? Are there missing pieces? Is it based on personal stories?
Has it become outdated? Do your assumptions genuinely hold up? What if one of your basic beliefs about human behavior, economics, or nature turns out to be false? What unforeseen outcomes could result from your conviction or the actions it inspires? This is frequently ignored when we feel strongly about a proposed solution.
Could there be other ways to explain the evidence you’ve used to justify your conviction? Might the same information support a different interpretation? This self-examination is essential.
It’s challenging, but it improves your capacity for critical thinking, whatever conclusion you reach. You may discover that your conviction remains sound, but you’ll have a clearer grasp of its boundaries and subtleties. Considering Counterfactuals
This is an effective exercise for the mind. Ask yourself: \”What if…?\”
\”What if the reverse of my conviction were true? What would the world look like?
What evidence would I anticipate finding?\”
\”What if I’d been raised in another setting, with different influences? Would I still believe this?\”
\”What if the incident that originally cemented this conviction had never occurred, or had unfolded another way?\”
Counterfactual thinking helps you step back from the present reality of your conviction and consider other possibilities, exposing how dependent it is on circumstances rather than how unavoidable it seems. It’s a way to mentally explore different scenarios and assess just how resilient your conviction really is.
After carefully searching for evidence that challenges your position and thoughtfully scrutinizing your own perspective, it’s time to evaluate everything and determine whether, and how, your conviction should evolve. This isn’t about discarding everything, but about improving your understanding. Synthesizing New Information
You’ve collected plenty of fresh insights. Now, combine them into a coherent picture. Compare and Contrast: How does the new evidence measure up against what you previously had?
Are there outright conflicts? Are there subtleties you hadn’t noticed? Identify Common Ground (if any): Even if you continue to disagree, can you recognize any shared points or areas where your understanding has moved closer to the opposing perspective? Acknowledge Uncertainty: It’s completely acceptable to decide that you lack a conclusive answer, or that the matter is more complicated than you first assumed. In fact, this often signals progress in thinking again.
