Humans Are Meant to Evolve. So Why Do Our Mindsets Stay Fixed?
The Moment That Triggered This Reflection
A few days ago, I wrote a short post appreciating a thoughtful Women’s Day initiative at work. Some of our colleagues had invited a trainer to teach self-defense, and I felt it was a meaningful way to celebrate the day. Many people responded warmly and shared their appreciation.
Later, while starting a conversation with a colleague about a project, he abruptly remarked that nowadays anyone can write because AI tools provide the content. As we continued talking, I realized the comment had less to do with AI and more to do with my congratulating the colleagues who had organized the event. What began as a casual exchange slowly revealed something deeper. Fixed mindsets can surface easily, even in an age where technology itself is designed to learn and evolve.
At one point, he sharply remarked that now everyone has become an author. My response to him was simple. I asked him, “If that is so, why don’t you try?” For a moment, he had no response.
A Conversation That Revealed More
The next remark he made was about the session itself. He asked that if the session was so useful, why it was not conducted in the common hall so that everyone could see it. I explained that the session was specifically organized for a group of women as part of the Women’s Day celebration. Because it was conducted in a closed room, many of us felt comfortable actively imitating the trainer and practicing the self-defense techniques.
I then asked him a simple question in return. Why are leadership sessions often conducted in closed rooms rather than on the open floor where everyone can watch? That moment made something clear to me. His discomfort was not really about the format of the session. It seemed to come from a preconceived notion about the people I had congratulated, as if he had already decided that they could not have done something meaningful.
He then asked another question. “Don’t you think AI is going to take our jobs?” Listening to these questions one after another made me reflect on how fixed his perspective seemed to be.
Yet after spending a few more minutes talking, something interesting happened. He paused and said, “Now after talking with you, I understand your intent.”
That moment confirmed something for me. The blog itself was only a brief synopsis of what actually happened inside the celebration room. It became clear that he had not really read the post before forming an opinion about it.
Why I Wrote That Blog
I explained to him why I had written it in the first place. My intention was simple. By sharing the experience, I hoped it might encourage more organizations to offer practical guidance like self-defense training for women. Such initiatives not only help women feel more confident and capable, but they also support them in excelling in their careers.
At the same time, appreciating the colleagues who organized the session can motivate them to continue creating thoughtful programs like this in the future.
The Misunderstanding Around AI and Writing
A sad reality I often notice is that some people decide a piece is AI-written even before reading it and dismiss it immediately.
What AI tools have really helped us do is articulate our thoughts better and express them more swiftly. For passionate writers like me, that is a meaningful advancement.
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I have always wanted to share my experiences with others. Sometimes it is to reflect, sometimes to connect, and often to offer practical suggestions that might make someone else’s journey a little easier. If technology helps communicate those experiences more clearly and reach people faster, I see it as a tool that supports the intention rather than replacing it.
Learning Has Always Evolved
In the early days of writing code, developers often referred to numerous websites, examples, and forums. They would study the code available, understand it, and then tailor it to suit their own requirements. That process was always part of learning and building solutions.
With AI tools today, this process has simply become faster and more convenient. The real success still lies in the hands of the developer who takes the effort to understand the code, refine it, and apply it thoughtfully. When used in this way, AI becomes a productivity tool that supports human capability rather than replacing it.
A Personal Reminder About AI and Expression
Recently, a cousin of my husband visited our home. When I first got married, he was still a schoolboy, and over the years we had only seen him grow from a distance. A few months after his visit, he sent us a long message appreciating the time he spent with our family. What touched me most was when he said he felt inspired by us.
It was quite apparent that he had used AI to help frame the message. The wording was polished and structured in a way that suggested a tool might have helped shape it. Yet the content felt deeply personal.
If I had dismissed it simply thinking it was AI-generated, I would have missed the genuine appreciation and encouragement he had expressed. He has always been a subtle and quiet person who may not easily articulate his feelings in long messages. In that moment, I felt that AI had actually helped him express what he truly wanted to say. Sometimes tools like these simply help people articulate their thoughts and emotions better, allowing sincerity to come through more clearly.
Reading Before Judging
Only when we actually read someone’s content can we truly evaluate the quality of their writing. It is in the real-life connections and experiences reflected in the words that the depth of the writing becomes visible.
Reading also exposes us to situations, perspectives, and ideas we may not have encountered before. When we face similar moments in the future, those insights quietly equip us to respond with greater awareness and understanding.
The Trap of Preconceived Notions
Another pattern we often fall into is forming opinions about people very quickly. Once we create that impression, we hold on to it strongly.
Even when reality shows us something different, we sometimes continue to resist accepting the change. Instead of updating our understanding, we push further against it.
If we consciously choose to move away from a fixed mindset, we begin to notice that people evolve just as circumstances do. When we remain open, we can see small changes in people every day, and that awareness helps us respond with greater understanding rather than judgment.
Moving Forward With Curiosity
While many Western countries are moving ahead by embracing this wave of change, we often seem hesitant, confused, or busy complaining about it.
Instead of resisting, why not move forward to the next stage, explore it with curiosity, and enjoy the process of learning? When we approach it with openness, we begin to see the possibilities and even the magic it can create.
In the end, embracing change always helps us stay ahead of the curve. Resisting it and complaining about it only keeps us stuck, much like a schoolboy unwilling to learn something new.
