We’re told to keep an open mind, but it this really necessary? I mean, there are plenty of closed minded people in society, and they seem to do okay.
Here’s a GenuLines look at both sides of the question.
A Closed Mind Versus An Open Mind
There are two different mindsets that pretty much determine how you look at life. They’re at the root of belief systems, opinions, and thought processes..
We’re talking about open-minded and close-minded approaches.
People under almost the same circumstances can have differing attitudes about a situation. One person can feel devastated and sorry for themselves.
The other can see the problem as a learning opportunity. And they may use it to improve themselves in some way.
Or, something that seems positive can leave a person ungrateful or unsatisfied.
Living life with an open mind is the better way of navigating through life’s ups and downs. This mindset put you in a better position to enjoy the good times and to cope with the bad.
Today we look at common examples of how keeping an open mind is the better choice.
Conflict
We experience conflict in the workplace and at home. It touches our relationships with friends and family alike.
During their interactions people bring differing opinions and perspectives to the table. Let’s say a group wants to reach an agreement.
The closed-minded individual tends to see things from their own viewpoint only.
This way of thinking ends in a stalemate. Not only does progress stop, but there’s damage to relationships.
But, the individual with an open mind can empathize with others in a way that moves everyone to a middle ground. Having an open mind is an important approach when working through disagreements.
Struggle Sessions
How often do we see people struggling with the same issues over and over? Yet they never seem to resolve them.
There are plenty of examples of this.
The person who gets into and out of relationships on a regular basis. The coworker who fails to progress in a company after years of grinding it out at the same position.
Or the person who falls off the wagon despite the same new year’s resolution made every year. Usually this failure pattern results from approaching these situations with a closed mind.
Closed minders find it tough to change their tactics to deal with the issue. They make the same mistakes over and over again, failing to learn from them.
Taking Responsibility
Maintaining an open mind helps you to own up to your mistakes. This helps you adapt to similar situations moving forward. An open mind powers your progress in any situation.
These are far from all the examples that show the superiority of an open-mind. But the message is loud and clear.
The neutrality of your circumstances is open to your interpretation. Having an open mind enables you to find the silver lining that the closed mind doesn’t see.
JohnK 12-19-2022
Overheard: The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind. ~E.B. White
Article image by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
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