as a chronic people-pleaser whose self-worth has become inextricably tied to others' perceptions of me, i'm noticing that my fear of being seen as a hypocrite sometimes makes me hesitant to learn and explore new areas that i had previously (and publicly) discounted. maybe that's why i struggle so much with posting any of my opinions online now. if i stand for something now, and change my mind later, my previous understanding/belief system can be used against me.
but i have to remember that there is a difference between hypocrites and change. a hypocrite's actions are mismatched to their words: the boss who expects an employee to be in the office at a certain time but is often late themselves; a parent who expects a child to always take the dishes into the kitchen but leaves their own dishes in the living room; a person who refuses to go into an office building for work citing the pandemic but goes to a crowded movie theater or restaurant on the weekends; a christian whose religion preaches loving and accepting all people but rejects folks whose occupation, sexual preference, gender identity, or skin color is different than theirs. these are examples of hypocritical behavior.
approaching and exploring a topic that i've historically downplayed, judged, or criticized with a new mindset doesn't make me a hypocrite -- it makes me human. it is a marker of maturity and growth.
fact is, there is always going to be new information that comes out about any topic, field of study, or belief system that will change the way we look at things. and that is okay. change is good.
