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As April comes to an end and, with it, the potential trauma of April Fool’s Day, it is worthwhile to explore tips to be learned from this auspicious day and beyond. While some embrace both initiating and being subjected to pranks, others hate being made the fool. Regardless of which side you comes down on, it is worth noting that the things that will improve an April Fool’s Day experience also allow you to negotiate your best life, both personally and professionally.
First, some context. Most people go through life fearing the possibility of looking like a fool. Social conditioning creates fear of failure, of rejection, of receiving negative responses to requests. Such fears can block taking any action at all and thereby inhibit success.
Ironically, it is in pushing past fears that the greatest triumphs can be realized. Failure is the path to success. Almost all great achievements throughout history came on the heels of repeated failures. Embracing failure forges the path to breakthroughs.
Reframing the "looking foolish" is a key first step to negotiating better outcomes. Failing is not foolish. It is brave and necessary. Accepting no’s along the journey and pushing forward creates growth and builds momentum toward success. Challenging accepted truths opens new perspectives and initiatives for expansion.
Looking forward to the learning that comes from making mistakes allows for bigger thinking, bolder action, and trust in yourself.
Having clarified that failing and taking chances are not foolish, it is worth exploring what constitute foolishness and how it can be avoided.
April Fool’s Day used to be about trying to trick people as a gaffe or gag. It celebrated the art of trying to make others believe something that was patently false. It was a half-day hall pass to fudge the facts and mislead.
Sadly, today, it is possible to see people being played the fool daily when they don’t distinguish between truth and lies and fail to separate fact from fiction. Such failure will become even more problematic with advances in technology that allow for outright fabrication of "information," including photos and videos.
Fake news is upon us. Whether in mainstream media or social media or in daily exchanges, inaccurate information abounds. The consequences of believing falsehoods ripped much of the world apart with vastly opposing views on handling COVID.
So, how to avoid being made the fool? Here are a few quick tips:.
1. Distinguish Fact from Fiction
The vast machinery of information dissemination does not correlate with its reliability. Just because something is spreading like wildfire does not increase the reliability of the information. Viral videos do not confer credibility. In fact, the opposite can be the case. Sensationalism attracts attention. Distortion can stand out and attract more attention.
It is critical to be intentional about consuming information that is supported by facts rather than bald assertions.
2. Tap into Intuition
Invoke intuition. The more one hones it, the more reliable it becomes. Signals about the reliability (or lack of) about information ought to trigger exploration of the issue rather than blind acceptance.
Ask yourself if what you see or hear is consistent with your own experience of that thing. If questions arise, or doubt lingers, trust your reaction.
3. Do the Homework
Rather than passively receiving information and blindly accepting it, a little fact-checking may be in order.
- Look to reliable sources that enforce vigorous fact-checking.
- Consider the internal consistency (or lack thereof) of the information being received. Is it at odds with your current understanding on that issue?
- Consider the external consistency of the information. Is it at odds with other external indicators?
- Seek differing perspectives and viewpoints and look at the information through multiple possible lenses.
4. Share Reliable Information Only
Avoid passing on information that may be inaccurate, especially if that information has the potential to cause harm.
Apply Socrates triple filter test on truth:
If what you are going to say/share is:
- not true; and/or
- not good; and/or
- not useful;
choose not to say it.
Using these simple insights can avert being made the fool. They can help you distinguish between the good, the bad, and the ugly of information input and output to allow you to live into your best life.
