Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you immediately disagreed with someone or dismissed an idea without giving it a second thought? Maybe it was because it didn't fit your worldview, or you just wanted to be the first with an opinion. But as the saying goes, the faster you react, the less you think.

Years ago, I used to be a hothead. Whenever anyone said anything, I'd think of a way to disagree. I'd push back hard if something didn't fit my worldview. I still slip into that trap on occasion.

Learning to think before reacting is a lifelong pursuit but worth pursuing. It can be challenging, but the benefits are endless. You may discover more than you initially thought by taking just five minutes to think about an idea before pushing it back.

Asking questions instead of pushing back is another way to give an idea the time it deserves. When you ask questions, you show that you're genuinely interested in understanding the idea and are open to different perspectives. It's a great way to learn and grow.

Ideas are fragile, and they often start powerless. Dismissing an idea is easy, but protecting it, thinking about it, and exploring it can lead to great things. The right idea could start out as wrong, but you'll only know if you give it a chance.

So, the next time you hear an idea, give it five minutes. Think about it before dismissing it. Consider the possibilities and explore the idea further. Who knows what great things may come from it? Remember, the hard thing to do is protect an idea, but it's worth it.