Don't just have opinions. Build them.
Your feed is a war for your attention. Hot takes, endless scrolls, viral outrage. How do you find your own voice amidst the chaos?
Plot twist: Most of our opinions aren't ours. They're rented from the loudest voice, the funniest meme, or the family WhatsApp group.
It's time to stop renting opinions and start building your own. Let's create a mind that's strong, flexible, and truly yours. This is your upgrade.
Don't just 'see both sides'. That's a flat line. See the whole spectrum. In 3D.
For any big topic, find 5 different lenses. The expert, the critic, the person it directly affects, a historical view, and a foreign perspective. Triangulate the truth.
Feelings are data, not your decision-maker. Before you form an opinion, ask: How does this post make me feel? Angry? Validated? Anxious?
Triggered? Before you react, share, or conclude, pause. Wait 10 minutes. Let the emotional wave pass. Does your perspective change after the feeling fades?
Anyone can tear down a weak argument (a straw man). The real flex is to build a 'steel man'.
Take the opposing viewpoint and make it stronger. Argue for it so well that the other side would say, 'Damn, I wish I'd said that.' If you can't, you don't understand it enough.
Break any idea down to its absolute basics. The fundamental truths you know are real. What are the raw ingredients of your belief?
A cook follows recipes. A chef understands ingredients: salt, fat, acid, heat. Deconstruct your opinions to find their core ingredients. You might find some are just... vibes.
Question your own beliefs. And then question the answers. Do this five times to get to the root of it all.
I believe X is important. Why? Because it affects Y. Why does Y matter? Because it connects to Z. Keep digging until you hit a core value or a shaky assumption.
They are the three most intelligent words you can say. 'I don't know' isn't a sign of weakness. It's the starting block for genuine learning.
Instead of having a hot take on everything, make your default response: 'That's interesting, I don't have a strong opinion on that yet.' Feel the freedom in that.
A tweet is cheap. A conviction has consequences. Opinions are only truly tested when something is at stake.
Ask yourself: Would I bet my time, money, or reputation on this opinion? If the answer is no, it's a hypothesis, not a conviction. Hold it lightly.
You are what you consume. This isn't just about food. Your mind is being shaped by every scroll, every click, every binge-watch.
Unfollow rage-baiters. Follow curious minds, not just dogmatic ones. Schedule time for deep dives—a book, a documentary, a long-form article. Treat your brain like the temple it is.
Your mind will no longer be a fragile wall that shatters when challenged. It becomes 'antifragile'—it actually gets stronger with stress and disagreement.
You'll start seeking out different views not as a fight to be won, but as a workout for your brain. You'll crave the challenge.
The goal isn't to always be right. The goal is to get a little closer to what's true, every single day. That's a journey, not a destination.
What's one core belief you hold that you've never truly questioned? The one you'd defend to the death?
Gently. Curiously. Bravely. Go wonder.