Philosophy

Why Your Opinions Should Not Define Who You Are

The Problem with Over-Identifying with Beliefs

Activities like meditation and self-reflection help you confront and question the narratives you have created to support your opinions. For me, being in contact with nature, trekking and exploring, especially alone, is a key part of revisiting and questioning my beliefs.

Opinions are how we make sense of the world around us. They come from what we know, what we’ve experienced, and the people who influence us. But opinions aren’t permanent. They can change as we learn and grow. Just like we do! That’s why it frustrates me when people’s growth and personal development is limited by over-identifying with their beliefs. This has been even more prominent as political polarization in society increases like it has in recent years. If you make your opinions a big part of who you are, it can lead to problems with how you grow to become a better person. Here are five reasons why it’s better to keep some distance between your opinions and your identity:

1: Opinions Can Change

Think about something you believed when you were younger that you don’t believe anymore. As you get older and learn and experience more, your views naturally change. If you tie your identity to your opinions, changing your mind might feel like you’re losing a part of yourself. But really, it’s just a sign that you’re growing! I think we have all been through this sensation where letting go of an opinion initially feels like loosing a big part of ourselves but when looking back we…