Self-proclaimed Ratchetdemic Too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating to those who challenge our thought process. And we think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side, wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval – and too little like scientists, searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, it can even be a curse: being good at thinking, can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Karaoke Life Coach Columbia University