🔄 Why I’ve Changed My Mind About So Many Things

One of the unexpected gifts of getting older (and hopefully wiser) is realizing that changing your mind isn't a sign of weakness. It's often a sign that you've been paying attention.

When I was younger, I admired people who seemed absolutely certain. They had strong opinions, unwavering confidence, and an answer for everything. I assumed that was what expertise looked like.

Now I see things differently.

The people I respect most aren't the ones who have never changed their minds. They're the ones who have remained curious enough to keep learning.

Over the years, I've changed my mind about a lot of things, both personally and professionally.

Natural Isn't Always Better

There was a time when I leaned heavily toward natural approaches. The more I learned, however, the more I realized that "natural" doesn't automatically mean safe or effective. Likewise, medication isn't inherently harmful or a sign that someone has failed.

Sometimes the best intervention is nutrition, movement, sleep, or stress management. Sometimes it's medication or a procedure. More often than not, it's a thoughtfulcombination of approaches tailored to the individual and their life circumstances.

I've stopped asking which approach is better and started asking which approach is most appropriate.

More Discipline Isn't Always the Answer

I used to think that if someone wasn't making progress, they probably needed more discipline.

Now I think that's one of the most common misconceptions in health and wellness.

Sometimes people need accountability and a nudge to change their habits. But sometimes they need rest or compassionate support. Many need to address grief, trauma, burnout, or shame before they can do the things they already know they "should" be doing.

Willpower has its place, but it isn't the solution to every problem.

You Can't Think Your Way Out of Everything

As someone who has mostly relied on her analytical mind to succeed in life, this one has taken me a long time to appreciate.

I've always loved learning. I still do. I believe deeply in education and evidence. Heck, that’s why I’m back in school.

At the same time, I've learned that insight alone doesn't always create change.

You can understand your habits and still struggle to change them. You can know exactly why you feel the way you do at the deepest intellectual level and still feel stuck.

Sometimes healing happens through insight. Other times, it happens through experience, relationships, body awareness, taking some space, or simply allowing yourself to feel what you've been trying so hard to avoid.

Rest Isn't Laziness

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that our worth is tied to our productivity.

I don't believe that anymore. Not one bit.

Rest isn't something we earn after we've done enough. It’s not something we need to feel guilty about. It's a biological need, just like food and water.

Ironically, I've found that the people who give themselves permission to rest often have more energy, more resilience, and more capacity to show up for themselves and the people they love.

Healing Isn't Linear

I used to think healing meant fixing what was wrong.

Now I think healing is more about changing the relationship we have with ourselves.

I've also learned that healing rarely moves in a straight line. There are setbacks, plateaus, breakthroughs, and days when it feels like nothing is changing at all.

That doesn't mean you're failing.

It just means you're human.

Curiosity Over Certainty

When I was younger, I thought confidence came from certainty and that expertise meant having the right answers.

Now I think expertise comes from asking better questions.

And real confidence comes from being willing to say, "I see this differently now."

Changing your mind isn't a sign that you were weak before. It means you've allowed new evidence, new experiences, and new perspectives to shape you.

The people I trust most aren't the ones who never change their minds.

They're the ones who care enough about new information, and about people, to change them when they should.

P.S. I added a cute picture of curious baby raccoons that were outside one of my windows just because. :)