A certain prominent politician supported and voted for a particular cause. A few years later while participating in a campaign for a new office this politician publicly no longer supported that cause, at least not in the same original manner. Life is not static. Obviously, the circumstances surrounding the cause changed during those several years. Things happened. Other things didn’t happen.
However, certain constituents and opponents adamantly and publicly requested this politician state publicly that the previous vote for the cause was wrong. The politician refused. I agree with this decision. Why on earth can a person, even one in political office, not change their mind on an issue when the issue progresses or evolves?
Under the original circumstances that politician made the most appropriate decision, or vote, with the information at hand. Since then things changed. It’s ludicrous to ask this person to recant their decision (or vote) or say they’re sorry for making it. There was nothing wrong with making the original decision, or vote, based on the original circumstances and with the information available at the time.
It’s not flip-flopping to change your mind when the circumstances change or more information becomes available. And even us non-politicians can broaden our thinking and viewpoints. Additionally, some of the non-opposing constituents also may have changed their minds right along with their political party representative. This is about dynamic circumstances and personal growth. It’s about being flexible. That’s a good thing in leaders and followers.
It’s only acting inappropriately when you’re so stubborn that you insist another person apologize or recant about the original decision. Offhand, I can think of only one motivation for such an action beside the political one of trying to make an opponent look bad. And that’s a character trait that makes these individuals want to always say “I told you so” and “Admit I was right and you were wrong”.
And what’s the point of that?
If you make a decision don’t spend time second guessing your decision several weeks later or even years later. Sometimes hindsight might be 20-20 and you might see a real flaw in your decision. But hindsight is no use when you’re living in the present and are making decisions in the present based on present circumstances.
In other words, you can’t pop into the future, get that 20-20 hindsight on the issue you’re about to make a decision on and then pop back into the past and make “the right decision.” Life isn’t an episode of the old movie “Back to the Future” where you can see what’s going to happen, know what should happen and change things to make it happen.
Again, we’re talking about decisions on issues that you can’t foresee the ending too. That means that if you crossed the street five years ago on foot against a red light and were hit by a car during the act then yes hindsight will do you some good. In other words, if you’re thinking about crossing the street against the traffic or walk signal again now, think back to what happened the last time you did that. But hindsight won’t necessarily work to your advantage on issues that are more gray versus so black and white.
Therefore, you shouldn’t feel guilty about the decision you made in the past. You shouldn’t let anyone pressure you into saying you were wrong—if you weren’t. Okay…if you made a decision that resulted in something hideous affecting another individual person’s life then perhaps you should feel guilty or recant. But that’s a rare decision and a very personal set of circumstances for most people. The decisions under discussion here are the everyday decisions you make in life about ordinary things and public issues.
Decision-making often involves making the best of information you have or can obtain within your timeframe for making that decision. If you made the best decision you knew how with the information you had available to you or that you could obtain at the time, you made the best decision you could. Stand by it. But don’t be afraid to change your answer to that same question if you’re asked again years down the road. And don’t be afraid to say, ‘yes, I did feel that way during that time period under those circumstances. The circumstances have changed. I no longer feel that way.’
As it should, dynamic circumstances, ongoing education and personal growth leads us to different decisions and outcomes in life at different times. It’s okay to change your mind later. Don’t let anyone deride you for doing so. It’s only people who become close-minded to the dynamics of life and personal growth that can’t or won’t change their minds later. These people are stubborn. Don’t be stubborn. Be open to personal growth and changing thought processes. Evolve with the times, but of course, do so consciously.