Over time, I've learned that attaching my emotions and my ego to my beliefs makes them exponentially more difficult to change, even if I am faced with an obviously rational and irrefutable counter-argument. Moreover, I think the subconscious fear I would experience when faced with the implications of accepting a given belief in order to maintain congruency would cause me to reject the idea out of fear. Hey -- it's easier to live a lie, right?
Timely example: I'm 28 and, about two weeks ago, for the first time in my life I decided that there is no god and that christianity is a farce. However, I haven't been a religious person since I got confirmed (lol) therefore it wasn't much of a paradigm shift for me. On the other hand, imagine a 55-year-old priest finally coming to the conclusion that there really is no god after all. Wouldn't it be easier for him to deny the evidence in order to irrationally justify his beliefs and, by extension, his entire life in service to god? Only a man of tremendous objectivity, self-confidence and dedication to truth could admit such a fact and then accordingly adjust his life to remain congruent. Lying to oneself is just so much easier.
By separating my beliefs from my identity and my emotions, I've found it much easier to change my views on many topics which I would have irrationally justified at an earlier time in my life in order to protect my ego.
Hope that helps
Tom
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