When I reflect on many of the blogs I have written, a lot of them depend on a first step, to be open-minded. That state is the necessary and often unacknowledged and unspoken, at least by me, initial starting point of any shift in perception and change.
What is open-mindedness anyway? Here are two definitions I found. At
is “a willingness to try new things or to hear and consider new ideas. An example of an open minded (sic) person is one who listens to her opponent in a debate to see if the information makes sense or if she can change her mind.” The other definition is similar, “the quality of being willing to considerideas and opinions that are new or different to your own” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/open-mindedness)
Is it a good thing to be open-minded? I believe that it is. I don’t know how anyone can continue to grow or change without having that frame of mind. I did see a suggestion in a Wikipedia article on open-mindedness that suggested the contrary. The example was of someone who is uncomfortable with ambiguity. Being open-minded does require that you acknowledge that your beliefs may not be correct, and other’s ideas may be right, leading, according to the article, to a sense of ambiguity. When this happens, the article goes on to suggest that some people want to dispel the ambiguity, and instead be definite about what is ‘right,’ ‘true,’ or ‘real.’ The article noted that virtues opposite to open-mindedness “include steadfastness, loyalty, and fundamentalism.”
Frankly, I don’t buy this line of thinking. I believe that being open-minded is not a polar opposite of loyalty or steadfastness. For me, holding these as poles of contrast is too rigid. I can be loyal, and I can be open-minded. They are not in conflict. There are times to be loyal, and times to be open to something new. Both can happen, actually even simultaneously. I see open-mindedness as a necessary and positive outlook for growth to happen.
If being open-minded is of positive value, what are the benefits? I noted one that is important to me, being open to grow and change because of new information or understanding. For example, I remember that my grandmother told me that the area of the country where we lived was a hunting ground for the native peoples. The implication was that ‘we European settlers’ had never taken any land from them. I have since learned that this is not true. There were always Native American settlements in the area. Though reflecting on the implications of this new information was not easy or comfortable, I gained new respect for the positions and demands of Native Americans.
The Wikipedia article on open-mindedness listed these benefits for being open-minded, letting go of control, experiencing change, making yourself vulnerable, making mistakes, strengthening yourself, gaining confidence, and being honest. Some of these benefits are obvious, some less so. For example, strengthening yourself or being honest are quite clearly good things. Making mistakes does not necessarily seem like a good thing. I think that the underlying attributes that tie these benefits together are being flexible, willing, and humble. New awareness and understanding can then evolve, even accepting and growing from making mistakes.
Last, how do you actively develop open-mindedness? Of course, along with the mindset of flexibility, willingness, and being humble, there are three actions to take, above all, stop controlling, also ask questions and listen, and be inclusive.
Imagine if we lived our lives this way!