If you want to live a life of continuous growth and development, maintaining an open mind is a mandatory requirement. This mindset opens up an endless array of opportunities and experiences that would otherwise pass you by, leading to the dreaded pain of regret.
Let’s discuss 5 steps that will allow you to avoid the closed minded approach that so may people around you are stuck in and steer you away from stagnation and disappointment in every area of your life.
Never Stop Learning
Far too many people have been led to believe that once their formal education has come to an end, they have acquired all of the information and skills needed to successfully navigate through life the rest of the way. This notion could not be farther from the truth.
You have certainly encountered a plethora of situations in your life that nothing found in a textbook prepared you for. Some of the greatest learning experiences life has to offer present themselves long after your high school or college graduation.
Always make a point to immerse yourself in opportunities that foster continued learning. The moment you decide there is nothing else to learn is the same moment your personal growth comes to a screeching halt.
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Experience is the greatest teacher of them all. As human beings, we learn best by trial and error. So many of us get caught in a painfully predictable routine, never exposing ourselves to new experiences and situations.
In order to ensure an open mind, allow yourself to try new things. Break out of the box you have built around your life from time to time.
Disrupting the monotony of daily life can be such an effective way to expand your train of thought and ensure progress along your journey.
Shift Your Perspective
Over time, the belief systems and ideologies we adhere to can become what we consider set in stone. We become so caught up in one way of thinking that the ability to accept and appreciate any other way is completely out of the question.
This instinct has benefits but often causes resentment towards differing opinions. It is perfectly fine to hold steady to your own set of beliefs and opinions.
What is not okay is to be so dead set and closed minded in these beliefs that you are unable to realize the merit of other ways of thinking.
Evaluate Your Progress
Whether you even realize it or not, there are areas of your life in which you are consistently experiencing the same problem or problems repeatedly. This is often an example of what happens when a person is evaluating these issues from the distorted lenses of a closed mind.
Whatever area of your life that you are failing to see progress in, try to be honest with yourself, opening up your mind to the root cause of the issue.
If you can successfully do this, many of the perpetual hang-ups that have been stifling your growth can be resolved.
Avoid The Tribe Mentality
Human beings have forever had the tendency to band together with like-minded individuals. This natural instinct has its advantages but often leads to resentment towards others with differing opinions.
This is especially true today, have you SEEN the battlefield that is Facebook? Yes, you are going to inherently be drawn to people who share similar interests and opinions to your own. An open mind offers many benefits. However, don’t limit yourself to one group so much that you feel you cannot fellowship with another.
By embracing these five steps, you’ll navigate past closed-mindedness, ensuring growth and fulfillment in all areas of your life.
