Small change: accept that you know nothing

The philosopher Lao Tzu suggested that a wise person never argues. Instead, they accept that the data that they have received throughout their life causes them to see the world a certain way. But another person, in receipt of different data, would see it another. The reality, though, is that both people only have access to an infinitesimal amount of the total data available at any one time. So the wise person understands that we’re all, in essence, clueless, and therefore that there’s no point in arguing.

Now look again at that disagreement you’re having at work. You know the one. What if, beyond your neurological programming and theirs, there was an alternate explanation or answer, out there in the 99.9999999999999% of the data that you both cannot see?

Something to consider: what makes me so sure that I’m right?

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