Mar 28, 2025 - 
Musings 
No Comments
Musings No Comments You Don’t Need an Opinion on Everything
| Why letting go of the need to have a stance on every issue can bring you peace and clarity Stoic Wisdoms “So, what do you think about it?” My friend asked, looking at me expectantly. Everyone at the table turned to hear my response to the latest controversy that had taken over social media. As everyone started sharing their strong opinions, I felt that familiar pressure building inside me—the urge to contribute my own thoughts, to prove I was informed, engaged, and smart. But then I realized something: I didn’t actually have a well-formed opinion on this particular issue. I had only read a couple of headlines, hadn’t researched multiple perspectives, and honestly, the topic didn’t directly impact my life in any meaningful way. Yet there I was, about to piece together some half-baked thoughts just to participate. Why? Because somewhere along the way, I had absorbed the idea that having an opinion on everything was necessary—that being silent might signal ignorance or apathy. Instead, I took a breath and simply said, “You know, I haven’t looked into this enough to have a thoughtful perspective.”  The conversation continued without me for a minute, but to my surprise, nobody thought less of me. In fact, later that evening, a friend pulled me aside and said, “I respected that you didn’t just talk for the sake of talking.” That moment got me thinking about how much unnecessary mental burden we carry by feeling obligated to form and defend opinions on every topic that crosses our path—from celebrity gossip to global politics, from corporate decisions to stranger’s life choices. |
