For those who don’t know what cognitive dissonance is, Frantz Fanon said it best, “Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new
evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.” I believe we all suffer from cognitive dissonance in some way. Hell, even I do. To have something shake your very core can be scary. However, to get passed this, you must remain humbled. Perhaps you could be wrong. Perhaps there is something you missed or hadn’t thought of. To destroy all the conditioning of one’s youth, only to slowly rebuild yourself into a glowing light of truth, is truly courageous. It takes the practice of opening your mind, remaining objective and unbiased. Can you completely rid yourself of cognitive dissonance? That answer I do not have. Perhaps it is part of our human nature. In that case, can you completely wipe yourself clean of human nature, or what you conceive to be bad about human nature? Or in that process will you destroy all parts of your human nature, the good and bad? I’m afraid I cannot answer this questions, yet. However, I intend on finding out.
-LR
manonhisjourney 