Open Your Mind, and Be Empowered
We’re moving on to a new theme this month of Creative Empowerment, and our first topic is open-mindedness. I would hope that most of us would think of ourselves as open-minded. But what does that really mean, and how does it empower us?
As we discussed last month, learning about other people and considering other viewpoints can help us expand our worldview. Being open-minded allows us to do just that – to gain insight about the world, have new experiences, learn new things, achieve personal growth, become mentally stronger, and feel more optimistic. Open-minded people tend to be less prejudiced and more tolerant of other people. They’re okay with hearing the opinions of others, having their ideas challenged, and being proved wrong if the evidence is not in their favor.
Empathy is also an important trait that helps us be more open-minded and connect with others. Here’s an awesome Brené Brown video on the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Yet, like so many things we talk about, being open-minded can be hard, especially in today’s world. Certain thought processes, called cognitive tendencies, can get in the way:
Selective exposure is the tendency to seek out those people and thoughts that align with what we already believe. This lets us avoid challenges to our beliefs, and social media platforms such as Facebook are quite willing to help us insulate ourselves by appealing to our selective tendencies.
The primacy effect is the natural inclination to assign more credibility to the first evidence we see than to any additional information that comes later. It’s like the power of first impressions. Once you form a belief, it’s hard to change that belief even if later evidence contradicts it.
Similarly, the tendency toward polarization can make us less critical of our own views and more critical of the flaws in other people’s arguments.
To overcome these tendencies, here are some ways to ensure your own open-mindedness: Read a wide variety of resources before coming to a conclusion or committing to a position on a controversial issue; try to stand in someone else’s shoes and consider their viewpoint and challenges before passing judgment; and periodically, review and re-evaluate your long-held beliefs by looking at new facts that may or may not support them.
As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “An open mind allows you to explore and create and grow. Remember that progress would be impossible if we always did things the way we always have.”
What progress could YOU make today if you simply opened your mind a little more?