Contrarian thinkers are out-of-the-box thinkers whose mindsets and beliefs differ from general opinions. But contrarian thinking doesn’t necessarily mean you always object; it means you reason independently. With contrarian thinking, you can withstand the pressure of conforming and emerge as a courageous thinker. Read ahead to know what contrarian thinking is and what are its pros and cons.
Uncovering Contrarian Thinking
Upholding opinions that are different or opposite from the majority is what contrarian thinking is about. Contrarian thinkers do not always reject others’ opinions. Rather, they think in a way that no one else can. Individuals and entrepreneurs going through times of uncertainty are often observed to stick to their unconventional approach when others give up on their ideas. It is this conviction that helps them reap advantageous results in the end.
Humphrey B. Neil, in his book, “The Ruminator: A Collection of Thoughts and Suggestions on Contrary Thinking,” has described contrary thinking as an ‘art’ and not a science that puts money in your pocket. Contrarian thinking is often regarded as a profitable strategy to gain financial freedom as it facilitates new ways to think about earning money. It is based on the belief that the best opportunities are found among unusual things that others don’t even consider.
Pros of Contrarian Thinking
Being a contrarian thinker can endow you with some noteworthy benefits. Find out what-
1) Increased Creativity
Creativity is a spontaneous ability of the human mind, and not every person is creative. A contrarian thinker is more open to ideas and adapts to them more quickly than a non-contrary thinker. This spontaneity and cognitive flexibility enhance creative power among contrarian thinkers.
2) Embracing Novel Ideas
Contrarian thinking embraces new novel ideas that have transformational power. The continuous urge of contrary thinkers to discover or learn something new compels them to adopt new technology and ideas to bring change.
3) Improved Decision-making
The more you tend to think differently, the more you make effective decisions. Contrary thinkers have more decision-making capability compared to the conformers. Contrarian thinking promotes risk-taking decisions, such as investment decisions or business venturing decisions. Having a unique perspective can let a contrary thinker look at those aspects of a thing that many fail to observe. This enhances critical thinking for contrarian thinkers and empowers their decision-making, especially financial decisions.
4) Promoting Change
Change is the only constant, and contrary thinkers understand this fact very well. Unlike conformers, they are constantly challenging existing systems to bring transformations. Their out-of-the-box thinking helps them promote change and sustainable growth by adopting new ideas and technologies.
What Can Go Wrong in Contrarian Thinking?
Those who think differently have to face challenging situations in establishing their ideas successfully. Here are the negative consequences of contrarian thinking-
1) Societal Backlash
There is a saying that when everybody is thinking alike, then no one is thinking, and those who think in the opposite direction are often misinterpreted and ridiculed. Being a contrarian thinker is not easy; you may always expect a backlash from the society whose norms you are questioning.
2) Risky Decision-Making
When you are investing in an idea that many refuse to invest in, it is a risky decision. Contrarian thinking facilitates risky decision-making, compelling thinkers to take the road less traveled. This can be extremely dangerous as there are high chances of failure.
3) Impact on Mental Health
The constant pressure of proving themselves right and living up to people’s expectations can be overwhelming for contrary thinkers. They are always expected to prove their point as they challenge the existing ones, which can negatively impact their mental health, putting them under stress.
4) Failures of Ideas
New ideas have a high chance of failure compared to tried-and-tested ideas. In contrarian thinking, new ideas are expressed and adopted by the thinkers, which can entirely go wrong.
Contrarian thinking is like trying a new cuisine for the first time; it can either taste extremely good or awful. However, until and unless you taste the cuisine, you cannot know how it is. Contrarian thinkers tend to taste everything new and often refuse the old ones. Although it is beneficial for fostering change, it can prove to be challenging in adoption and execution. Whatever may be the cause, contrarian thinkers are considered game-changers for their uniqueness and courage.