Be less certain

Being absolutely certain on something has some real downsides:

It means we don’t look for evidence for or against something. Because we already decided what we think. Whether we’re right or wrong, we’re blind.

It makes us continue down a path that may not be right for us. Because we want to be coherent with past decisions, or because we feel led by the market or the divine.

It makes us liars. Because saying “I don’t know” doesn’t make us feel brilliant like lingo-laden expert-speak does.

There are lots of reasons to seek certainty on a great many things. But I find a better goal is to be “almost certain”.