My Idea Outlet - Defining Beliefs (2024)

I have decided to update my list of Defining Beliefs, but I’m going to handle things a little differently this time. Because I have added a project to My Idea Outlet based on my defining beliefs, I have decided to combine my list update with my update for My Idea Outlet.

Unlike most of my updates relating to my defining beliefs, I don’t have my revised version as I’m starting this post. I knew that I needed to make at least one change, and I have decided to share my process.

Moving forward, I intend to reevaluate my list and n a yearly basis. Reevaluations will not always result in any changes. If I don’t make changes, I’m not going to post. I don’t want to write if I’m not going to post, so sharing my process will likely be rare.

Before I go any further, let me share my most recent update (which I apparently didn’t share):

1. To maximize our collective capabilities, we must embrace the unique strengths and viewpoints of mentally diverse individuals.
2. We need to put thought above knowledge.
3. It is better to be a good person than appear to be a good person.
4. Bias is a part of human nature that can be addressed to an extent but never eliminated.
5. There is always a way that you can be wrong.
6. Ideally, you should be the biggest expert on who you are and what you need.
7. Success should be determined primarily by how well you better yourself and the world around you.
8. Anything subjective in nature cannot be measured in a truly accurate and objective manner.
9. Those who want to learn should be allowed to do so with as little restriction as possible.
10. The future is more valuable than the present, and the present is more valuable than the past.

Last time, I read through this list, finalized it, read through again, and immediately saw a change that I wanted to make. For #5, I stated that there is always a way to be wrong. In a sense, this explains #2. If I believe that you can always be wrong, shouldn’t it be obvious that I value thought above knowledge? Considering how hard it was for me to condense an older list to ten items, that comes off as redundant. I have decided to remove #2 from my list.

This opens a spot, but how do I fill it? I could go back through previous lists, but I don’t have a good setup for that. My preference would be to take a good look at what has been driving me lately. Perhaps that can lead me to something that is not properly reflected.

I have been highly critical of current views on diversity. We seem to emphasize a shallow checklist definition of diversity while completely overlooking the potential benefits of a mentally diverse society. It looks like I’ve already captured that one.

How about our tendency to undermine the role of the learner in the educational process? That could potentially be extracted from #6 and #9. Although this doesn’t target our current actions, I would rather not overemphasize a current action that can be corrected.

A similar issue is that I believe that people should have a say in their own lives. Based on what I said for #6, that should be obvious.

I have also been thinking about labels. Labels are frequently used as a shortcut to getting to know who people are, but they are typically too shallow for a proper representation. #1 promotes diversity, and #6 can be used to point out limitations in how others understand you, but these connections might be a bit of a stretch.

A similar issue I have had is with people being defined by their jobs. This includes my long-running criticism of how we always ask children what they want to be when they grow up but never who they want to be. Actually, this is similar enough to that last point that they could potentially be combined. I think we have a winner.

I don’t want this to sound too temporary. Will my words still make sense if we stop labeling individuals? Perhaps I should utilize my usual question. Why? Why shouldn’t we diminish individuals to shallow labels. I think I’m ready to try to find the wording, although this can certainly change.

Getting to know an individual requires us to actually get to know that individual beyond shortcuts such as labels and occupations.

I have read through all the other items on my list. As of right now, I think they all work. Obviously, I am open to updates in the future, but I think I can go ahead and provide the updated list.

1. To maximize our collective capabilities, we must embrace the unique strengths and viewpoints of mentally diverse individuals.
2. Getting to know an individual requires us to actually get to know that individual beyond shortcuts such as labels and occupations.
3. It is better to be a good person than appear to be a good person.
4. Bias is a part of human nature that can be addressed to an extent but never eliminated.
5. There is always a way that you can be wrong.
6. Ideally, you should be the biggest expert on who you are and what you need.
7. Success should be determined primarily by how well you better yourself and the world around you.
8. Anything subjective in nature cannot be measured in a truly accurate and objective manner.
9. Those who want to learn should be allowed to do so with as little restriction as possible.
10. The future is more valuable than the present, and the present is more valuable than the past.

Because this is part of My Idea Outlet, I should also provide a link to the updated version for this project:

Idea Outlet - Defining Beliefs (2024).pdf