Don't Knock It Till You Try It

Have you ever caught yourself immediately saying “no” to a suggestion someone gives you — without even a moment’s thought? Most of us have. It’s almost second nature to dismiss advice or ideas, not because we’ve carefully considered them, but because deep down we think we already know best, or that we don’t need anyone else’s input to improve our lives. We might not consciously believe that (and would probably never admit it), but it’s often there, quietly shaping our reactions.

So here’s the question: the next time someone offers you a suggestion — about anything — what’s your instant reaction? And more importantly, why?

Looking back on my younger years, I can’t help but laugh at how predictable I was. Like many people, the more my parents told me to do something, the less I wanted to do it. And if they told me not to? Well, you can guess what happened. The irony is, the older I get, the more I realize they were right about a lot of things (within reason, of course).

That’s part of growing up — figuring things out for yourself. But I often wonder how many opportunities I missed out on, or at least delayed, simply because I wasn’t willing to try something unfamiliar.

Now, I’m not suggesting you take every piece of advice you’re given. What works beautifully for one person may not work for you at all. But the mindset of openness — the ability to hear a suggestion without instantly rejecting it — is a game changer.

There’s even a psychological explanation for why we resist. The “Backfire Effect” is a cognitive bias where, if a suggestion contradicts our existing beliefs or habits, we perceive it as a threat. Instead of reconsidering, we often dig our heels in deeper, even if the suggestion could help us. It’s our brain’s way of protecting our identity and self-image.

For me, this pattern showed up in a big way with meditation. My dad has been suggesting I meditate since high school. He’d invite me to the living room at night, asking me to sit on the floor for just five minutes, breathe, and focus on something that made me happy. He made it simple. But sixteen-year-old me rolled her eyes, giggled, and thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever.

Years later, as I devoured self-help books, I noticed meditation was a recurring theme — often described as life-changing, even magical. Still, I brushed it off as a “waste of time.” Something in me insisted it wouldn’t work, that it was a lost cause.

Then, a few months ago, life threw some heavy challenges my way. I found myself desperate for something, anything, that could help. So I thought: What do I have to lose?

 I started meditating two weeks ago. And to my surprise, it has brought me a level of peace I’ve never experienced. Fifteen minutes feels like five. I’m so absorbed in that state of calm that I don’t want to leave it. My days feel lighter, brighter. I’ve rediscovered a joy for life that I didn’t even realize had dulled.

I’m not saying meditation will change your life the way it did mine. It might, it might not. The real point here is this: be open. Don’t dismiss something before you’ve given it a fair try. You never know — the thing you’ve been brushing off for years might just be the thing you’ve been needing all along.

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