How I came to change my mind (about wearing crocs!)
I have been having conversations with client’s recently about how polarised society has become – you have to pick a side and stick to it … whether you are in the leave or remain camp regarding Brexit, for or against the shipping of refugees off to Rwanda or which way the toilet paper should hang! No matter how much we debate or argue people are often unwilling to change their mind. Confirmation bias says that we seek out people who hold the same views as us. Our brains are faster at processing information that we agree with.
It can feel flimsy or weak to change your mind. Look at the politicians that get berated for doing a U Turn on policies, flip flopping is seen as unreliable, undependable and flaky. Having a change of heart can make us feel guilty or bad. But I am here to challenge the idea that changing your mind is some sort of mistake or an undesirable characteristic that qualifies you as unreliable or careless.
Something happened recently that made me do a complete 180 in my opinion – my children asked me to buy them crocs! You either love them or hate them – crocs are possibly the most divisive footwear that has ever existed!
I admit that all my life I have hated crocs. I think crocs are ugly and unflattering. They are functional, much like all of the outdoor wear shops the stuff is not designed with beauty in mind. I think that crocs are okay to wear as garden shoes or if you are a nurse working in a hospital to compliment your scrubs but should NEVER been seen in public. Some things are just best kept hidden.
However, something seems to have shifted since the pandemic as Crocs saw its stock value surge by 61% in the first quarter of 2021. Just like we stopped wearing makeup, brushing our hair or getting dressed in the pandemic, maybe we opted for the easy option with regards footwear – crocs are easy to slip on and easy to clean, they are comfortable to walk in and provide more protection and covering than a sandal.
God knows why my children want crocs – there must be some Tik Tok sensation around them that I am oblivious to! So I googled “pretty crocs” an oxymoron if ever there was one! When the prettiest crocs I could find arrived my children went ballistic saying they were not crocs and refused to even try them on! In an attempt to convince them that they were indeed crocs I had to try them on and model them. Now imagine the Katy Perry song …. I wore the crocs and I liked them! I actually liked how they looked and the massaging effect they give to the sole of foot when you walk in them! They had vibes of my box fresh trainers but that would stay cleaner for longer!
So that is how I came to change a view that I had held onto dearly all of my life. I am not sure if I will be rocking them on the school run or doing the supermarket shop but I am slowly becoming converted.
Reasons why it is okay to change your mind
1. You are growing, changing and developing all the time
As we grow, we change. I used to like staying out all night dancing and drinking 20 years ago, I now prefer a quiet night in. I am not the same person as I was back then. Our priorities, interests and desires move on. That is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it is a sign of progression. You are under no obligation to remain the same person you were 20 years ago, 20 months ago or even 20 minutes ago!
2. You are biologically hardwired to adapt to new information
Humans have been evolving and developing over millions of years. We are biologically equipped for changing decisions, our cognitive systems are built to absorb new information and adapt to new conditions. The reason we often resist change is that we are designed not to embrace uncertainty. Evolution has kept us from being extinct by avoid risk taking, uncertainty and threatening behaviours. If you know this is your survival defence mechanism kicking in to keep you alive you can reassure yourself that change is good, as well as a bit scary.
3. It shows you can be flexible
Being rigid means you can get stuck, being flexible or adaptable means you can see things from different perspectives. Changing your mind shows that you are open to incorporate new information in order to inform and update your viewpoint. We need to be able to evaluate situations form multiple angles in order to succeed in life. It is good to be able to rethink our ideas and views.
I love the work of Carol Dweck who describes “Growth Mindset” as the ability to overcome challenges and difficulties by knowing that your talents are not set in stone, your abilities and opinions can be developed and improved over time.
4. Success is often built on the back of failure
Following on from the concept of “Growth Mindset” some of the most successful people in life have got to where they are by being prepared to take risks. Thomas Jefferson once said “With great risk comes great reward.” If you want more in life you sometimes need to take a chance and give something a go. If you fail you have gained new experience, knowledge and learnt lessons for the future. I love the programme “Dragon’s Den” where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to business people for investment for this very reason. The ones that pitch and don’t end up getting any investment often leave with heaps of information to build their business better.
5. Changing your mind helps you find clarity
By discovering what we don’t want, can help us to realise what we do want. That is why changing your mind can help you clarify what you really want. Sometimes we have to explore and experiment in order to work out what is best for us. Being open to trial and error, rather than having to be right all the time is a good thing.
So what might you change your mind about over the coming weeks?