Page 143 - Ray Dalio - Principles

b. Don’t let fears of what others think of you stand in your way. You must be
willing to do things in the unique ways you think are best—and to
open-mindedly reflect on the feedback that comes inevitably as a
result of being that way.

Learning to be radically transparent is like learning to speak in
public: While it’s initially awkward, the more you do it, the more
comfortable you will be with it. This has been true for me. For
example, I still instinctively find being as radically transparent in the
ways that I am in this book uncomfortable because I am exposing
personal material to the public that will attract attention and
criticism. Yet I am doing it because I’ve learned that it’s best, and I
wouldn’t feel good about myself if I let my fears stand in the way. In
other words, I have experienced the positive effects of radical
transparency for so long that it’s now uncomfortable for me not to be
that way.

Besides giving me the freedom to be me, it has allowed me to
understand others and for them to understand me, which is much
more efficient and much more enjoyable than not having this
understanding. Imagine how many fewer misunderstandings we
would have and how much more efficient the world would be—and
how much closer we all would be to knowing what’s true—if instead
of hiding what they think, people shared it openly. I’m not talking
about everyone’s very personal inner secrets; I’m talking about
people’s opinions of each other and of how the world works. As
you’ll see, I’ve learned firsthand how powerful this kind of radical
truth and transparency is in improving my decision making and my
relationships. So whenever I’m faced with the choice, my instinct is
to be transparent. I practice it as a discipline and I recommend you
do the same.

c. Embracing radical truth and radical transparency will bring more meaningful work
and more meaningful relationships. My experience, based on watching
thousands of people try this approach, is that with practice the vast
majority find it so rewarding and pleasurable that they have a hard
time operating any other way.
This takes practice and changing one’s habits. I have found that it
typically takes about eighteen months, which is how long it takes to
change most habits.

1.4 Look to nature to learn how reality

works.