Monday, November 10, 2025

You Might Be Wrong, But I Don’t Have to Be Right!

The real core of connection is the willingness to move beyond right and wrong, to step into a space where understanding and presence take precedence

Blogs National

By Quentin Steen, Representative

I’ve often wondered if it’s possible to be completely wrong about something, and yet still find peace in that wrongness. We’re taught that being right is what matters most.

Society values certainty, correctness, and clarity, often placing these ideals above all else. But, over time, I’ve started to question whether being right is truly the measure of success.

At first, I believed that being right was my ticket to feeling secure in relationships, in life, and even in myself. If I could prove my point, stand my ground, and show that I was correct, then I would be seen, heard, and respected.

But there came a point when I realized that no matter how hard I tried, there would always be situations where I wasn’t fully right. The more I focused on trying to be right, the more I felt disconnected from the world around me, from others, and even from my own sense of purpose.

The truth is, you might be wrong, but I don’t have to be right. And that's been an important lesson for me—learning to accept that.

It’s not about proving someone else wrong or myself right. It’s about embracing the idea that, sometimes, being wrong doesn’t have to be a failure. Instead, it’s simply part of the journey.

As I let go of the need for validation through correctness, I found myself drawn to something deeper, something more meaningful to me. Connection. The kind of connection that isn’t based on whether I’m right or wrong, but on whether we understand each other, whether we’re willing to listen and be present. Even if that connection is limited, even if it’s just a small moment of shared understanding, it’s still worth something.

Connection, I’ve realized, doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be complete or unbroken. It can exist in fleeting moments, in brief exchanges, in the quiet presence of someone sitting beside you. In those moments, we’re not worried about who’s right or wrong; we’re simply existing in the same space, sharing the experience of being human.

If I could trace the root of connection, I’d say it begins with acceptance. Accepting that I don’t need to be right, and that sometimes being wrong is part of the beauty of life.

If I can open my heart to others—to the imperfection of every conversation, every relationship—then I’ve opened the door to something much more meaningful: the possibility of connection.

When I reflect on this journey, I realize that what I once thought was the core of my relationships—being right—was merely a surface-level goal. The real core of connection is the willingness to move beyond right and wrong, to step into a space where understanding and presence take precedence.

Even if that connection is limited, it still holds power. Because at the heart of connection, even in its smallest form, is the shared human experience. And that, to me, is where the real meaning lies.

Now let’s turn the tables. . . . I might be wrong, but do you have to be right?

Get your BRAIN right and your MIND will follow!

Quentin Steen is a certified mental health first aid instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

You Might Be Wrong, But I Don’t Have to Be Right!

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