Being wrong is painless

Being wrong is so painless that I can’t even feel it.

Over the last few months I’ve been realizing how wrong I’ve been about many things — and that whole time, I never knew it!

And — it felt indistinguishable from being right.

Being wrong and being right both feel exactly the same, in that they don‘t feel like anything at all. They’re both painless and pleasureless.

And yet, our emotions can inform us about whether we’re likely wrong.

Secure vs insecure

Being right doesn’t feel like anything, and being wrong doesn’t feel like anything.

But feeling “secure that I’m right” feels one way, and being “insecure that I’m right” feels different.

And when I feel insecure, there’s usually a good reason.

When I feel insecure, I feel stirred to action when opposed:

• “I have to reply to that tweet!”

• “I have to tell him he’s wrong!”

• “I have to provide this killer argument!”

You could also call this “being offended,” though many people already deny they’re ever offended, because being offendable is uncool (at least, among most of my friends).