Why Should We Try To Convince Anybody?

And are we humble enough to let others convince us?

two people point at different directions, trying to convince the other of where to go, sleek modern comic style — by DALL·E

These days, I hardly find myself trying to convince anyone of anything. I must have grown tired of it, for I used to do a fair bit of convincing in the past. I remember feeling the urge to share new insights with those around me. I would discover we had been wrong about something and try to ensure everyone could come to the same conclusion. Alternatively, I would come up with an idea to go somewhere new or do something better, and I wouldn’t stop until everyone had the same realisation — or asked me to leave them alone.

As time passes, it becomes harder to convince oneself of anything, never mind other people. As our beliefs become increasingly refined at best and solidified at worst, we need more time and effort to affect them. We might also fall into the common trap of thinking that the longer something or someone stays with us, the more valuable it must be. Ideally, we may not need the validation we used to seek when we needed those around us to share our convictions.

In any case, convincing is always fraught because it implies we are right and they are wrong. Furthermore, the surer we may feel that we are correct, the more convinced we will feel, but we won’t be any more convincing. Indeed, conviction makes us blinder and deafer to other…