Become a Skeptic and Transform Your Life

I believe most people do not know or appreciate what the word “Skeptic” truly means. The common vernacular has a connotation of cynicism and predisposition toward pessimism.

Skepticism

1: an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object

2a : the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain b : the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics

Even the word doubt has gotten a bad wrap. I believe doubt is one of the healthiest things that one can have. If someone acts like they are insulted when you doubt what they say then I say they don’t really care about informing you, they want to impress you so that they can control or dominate you. It is subtle but it works. The result is that you stop being curious.

This shows up in your life as a kind of laziness. If someone gives you an answer and you don’t question it then you don’t need to research it out for yourself. But this leaves you open to every hoax and deception imaginable.

To be a skeptic is to be curious and willing to check out every detail you hear before you incorporate information into your belief system. It also means to be willing to review your belief system regularly, especially when you get information that challenges it and this includes your core beliefs.

I believe that true skepticism lies at the root of mental health and well being. Deciding to become a skeptic can transform your life for the better. It will transform your ability to have conversations. It will allow you to begin to draw people into your life that respect your skepticism because they intend the best for you and they know you must find your own answers.

Here are my suggestions on how to be a good skeptic.

Be willing to do research. Search for sufficient evidence. Never dismiss or accept anything you hear out of hand. Don’t be gullible by trusting people who demand blind faith and obedience. Blind trust is almost never the right course and should only be used when a decision must be made and there is little or no evidence. Use your intuition. I believe each and every human being has an intuitive knowing that guides us, especially about people that truly love and care.

Here are some of the results you will begin to see if you are willing to experiment with becoming truly skeptical.

Your life will become more interesting. You may even grow more brain cells. People will find you more interesting and a good listener. Remember being skeptical is about listening to others with a truly open mind not arguing with them. The people in your life that have fixed ways of thinking will begin to find other people to control.

New possibilities and opportunities will begin to open up for you and life will become more fun. You will begin to get a sense of being in control of your life instead of being a victim of circumstances.

Now most importantly don’t believe anything I have told you, check it out. Be willing to experiment with your life. Allow a reasonable amount of time to begin to see results.

Robert Anton Wilson, the master of skepticism put it this way.

"My goal is to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone, but agnosticism about everything."

"Is", "is." "is" — the idiocy of the word haunts me. If it were abolished, human thought might begin to make sense. I don't know what anything "is"; I only know how it seems to me at this moment.