my take on.. : Why People Get Stuck Thinking They’re Right All the Time

I believe that when people are immersed in repetitive, non-evolutive tasks or lifestyles, they begin to see everything in their lives as المسلّمات — unquestionable givens. Their routines become so dominant that they stop questioning what they believe, how they act, or what they pursue. Over time, they develop a deep sense of certainty, not because their beliefs are grounded in truth, but because their environment never forces them to reflect or adapt. In this kind of mental comfort zone, the absence of challenge becomes mistaken for correctness.

Repetition, while comforting, can be mentally dangerous. It provides structure and predictability, but it also numbs the mind. When every day looks the same, the brain settles into patterns and stops seeking new perspectives. People begin to operate on autopilot — and autopilot doesn’t encourage growth. Instead, it reinforces what already exists. Eventually, people stop asking “Why?” or “What if?” They accept what is, not because it’s right, but because it’s familiar.

This phenomenon is not new. The Qur’an speaks strongly against blind imitation and inherited thinking that goes unchallenged. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:170), Allah says:

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾

This verse addresses people who cling to inherited beliefs and practices simply because their ancestors did the same — even when those ancestors lacked understanding. It’s a direct challenge to those who refuse to question their path.

In another powerful verse from Surah Al-A’raf (7:179), the Qur’an says:

﴿وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ﴾

Here, people are described as having hearts that do not understand, eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear. It’s not that they lack ability — it’s that they’ve stopped using those faculties. They’ve become so immersed in their way of life that they are compared to cattle, or even worse, because they’ve consciously chosen to remain blind.

In Surah Az-Zumar (39:9), the Qur’an poses a profound question:

﴿قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ﴾

Are those who know equal to those who do not? This rhetorical question draws a clear line between those who seek knowledge and reflect, and those who remain static. The reminder is that growth — both intellectual and spiritual — is a responsibility, not a luxury.

Modern science reinforces these same warnings. Neuroscience tells us that the brain changes and evolves through novelty and challenge — a process called neuroplasticity. But when we repeat the same patterns every day, the brain’s plasticity weakens. We become mentally rigid. Psychologists have also studied the “Default Mode Network,” a part of the brain that becomes active when people are not engaged in active thought. In overly repetitive environments, this network dominates, leading people to dwell in habitual, self-reinforcing thought loops. The result? A person becomes more sure of their own beliefs — but not because they’ve been tested or refined.

Add to that the Dunning-Kruger effect — the idea that people with limited knowledge often overestimate their understanding — and it becomes clear how easy it is for someone in a repetitive life to feel confident in views that were never deeply examined. This is what makes routine dangerous. It creates a sense of righteousness that isn’t grounded in truth, but in habit.

In real life, this looks like the employee who has done the same job for ten years and insists they know best, even when the world has changed. Or the person who reacts defensively to feedback because they’ve never had to face their flaws. Or even the believer who confuses mechanical rituals with spiritual growth. In all these cases, people are operating on المسلّمات — not because their beliefs are well-formed, but because their environment has never asked them to form new ones.

So what can we do?

We must interrupt our routines. Expose ourselves to unfamiliar people, ideas, and ways of thinking. We should regularly ask uncomfortable questions — about what we believe, what we assume, and where those beliefs came from. Growth rarely happens in echo chambers.

It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about not being afraid to question the ones we already live by.

The real danger isn’t being wrong — it’s being so settled into repetition that we forget we could be wrong. That’s when our minds start to stagnate, and our beliefs solidify into untested assumptions — المسلّمات — we never bothered to challenge.

We should never let repetition replace reflection. Because a belief unchallenged is just a habit with a halo.