Everyone is right, who is at fault?

Lately, we’re all complaining about something. At work, in the social order, in our relationships, in national issues... Everyone is speaking up, and everyone claims to be right in their own way. But interestingly, in a space where everyone is “right,” nothing seems to get resolved.

This situation is actually quite familiar. When a problem arises, if you ask each party separately, most will likely provide logical and valid justifications. Because everyone experiences their own reality. And that makes them “right” from their own perspective. But this is exactly the moment we need to pause and think. If everyone is right, why can’t we find a solution? More importantly, is being right enough to solve the problem?

What we were taught was usually this; “If you’re right, you’ve already won". But now we know that being right isn’t enough. True resolution lies in mutual understanding.

At this point, the need for a middle path or a third way emerges. This path can’t be solely based on what one side wants, nor entirely shaped by the other’s perspective. The foundation of this path lies in two simple yet powerful questions:

What works for you? What doesn’t harm me?

These questions are where negotiation begins. This approach is not only essential for finding solutions, but also for repairing relationships, easing societal tensions, and learning to coexist with differences.

We’ve discussed the importance of creating alternatives to escape dilemmas in previous blogs. Let’s not forget that small steps create big transformations. If we choose to seek solutions together rather than just being “right,” that’s when real progress begins.

Dr. Bilinç Dolmacı