Crash testing your own opinions

Dear Aditya,

Everywhere you look, there's an opinion waiting to be handed to you. The news, social media, dinner table debates. And if you're not careful, you'll walk away thinking opinions are reality.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: opinions aren't facts. They're just perspectives wrapped in conviction. They're shaped by our experiences, our biases, our fears. And yet, we hold onto them like they're sacred truths.

Take the famous Dunning-Kruger effect. People with the least expertise on a topic often have the strongest opinions about it. The less they know, the more certain they are. Meanwhile, those who actually do understand a subject hesitate, knowing how complex reality can be.

Or think about Galileo. He spent his life proving that the Earth revolves around the Sun while the world around him was convinced otherwise. People felt the Sun moved across the sky, so that had to be true, right? Turns out, feelings aren't always the best metric for truth.

Here is where real learning happens, not in the collection of opinions, but in the willingness to discard them when they no longer hold up.

So here's a challenge: Think of one opinion you strongly hold. Now, take the opposite stance. Argue against yourself. Find holes in your logic. It's uncomfortable, but it's necessary. Because if you never question your opinions, are they really yours?

And if this feels too heavy, here's a lighter exercise: Try making a dish you've always assumed you wouldn't like. Maybe you hate the idea of bitter gourd, but have you ever tried it stuffed and slow-cooked with spices? Maybe it's not the vegetable, it's just how you've been eating it.

In fratitude,
adi