Open Minded is the ability to embrace people, cultures and beliefs that are different to your own.
It’s the ability to not immediately shut down when faced with a life situation which is completely different to your own.
Ultimately it means not being judgemental and having the patience to try to understand an alien concept that is placed in front of you and not shying away.
Benefits of being open minded
- Learn more
If you take the opportunity to learn about something you don’t understand or don’t like, you will learn and hopefully benefit from it.
- Not prejudice
Being open minded shows you are not prejudiced or can’t be accused of being prejudice.
- More optimistic
Open minded people are happier. They are not set in a rigid way of living life and their happiness breeds a desire to accept and try new things.
- Keeping up with the times
A willingness to embrace something new will ensure that you keep up with the times and stay current.
- Adapt better
If you are not open minded, it’s likely you won’t be able to adapt to new situations that are thrown at you in life. Taking an open minded view will ensure you adapt to new people or situations.
- Solve problems
Problem solving is easier for open minded people because they are willing to try different things or look at a situation differently.
- Experience new things
By being open minded you are leaving yourself open to experience new things and more joys which you would have never have experienced otherwise.
- Make you more likeable
People will like you more if you are open minded because you will be approachable, less confrontational and more likely to engage in meaningful conversation.
- Provides clarity
Being open minded provides absolute clarity on a situation. May be it will reaffirm your original view or maybe it will make you change your view completely.
- Compassion
Adopting an open mind will breed compassion. Instead of instantly judging, an open mind will allow you to view the situation from another perspective and understand (even if you don’t agree).
How to be more open minded?
- Patience – don’t automatically dismiss someone because you don’t understand their religion for example. Take the time to get to know them as a person and research their religion.
- Broaden your horizons – try new things, visit new places, meet new people. Try to immerse yourself into a new experience. You never know you may like it.
- Be inquisitive – try and establish why you feel like you feel about a particular thing. Is it based on fact? How can you establish the reality? Challenge your perceptions.
- Learn something new – make a deal with yourself to try new things or to experience new things every time an opportunity presents itself.
Gemma
xxx
