Whether we admit it or not, some people are not as open-minded as others. In some cases, opening your mind to be receptive to new information, other people’s ideas, and respecting arguments can be a good thing. This is considered a positive mindset and people who have this quality are generally considered to be a desirable bunch.
Being open-minded allows you to think rationally, be more understanding, and make better-informed decisions. You get to learn how to accept the ideas of others and respect their beliefs even if this is not something you agree with. You are more willing to take on new experiences, thus help you experience something new and learn from them.
This is not to say that being open-minded is easy. It is, in fact, so hard to stay open-minded. It can be more difficult to revise your own beliefs than to consider other people’s perspectives. But being open-minded offers other benefits. This can actually help you lead a healthier and a more satisfying life. If you find it hard to believe, here’s how open-mindedness can improve your health and life in general.
It Helps Improve Social Relationships
One reason most people argue is that we sometimes fail to keep our opinions to ourselves. We mock others for doing what makes them happy and for making choices that are against our beliefs even if they are not hurting anyone, even themselves in the process. Take people judging others for undergoing cosmetic procedures, for instance.
Some people would be willing to undergo certain procedures such as Botox treatment to treat wrinkles and achieve younger-looking skin. Some people judge others and say they should embrace their natural beauty. What they may fail to realize is that sometimes, people undergo such treatment not just for the beauty benefits.
Your loved one may be struggling with their self-image and undergoing such treatment helped them regain their confidence. Instead of judging or questioning their decisions, you be happy for them and support their decisions. This goes to show that open-mindedness helps build better relationships, which in turn, makes you happy.
It Helps Improve Your Health
One way to improve your open-mindedness is through meditation. When you meditate, you let your mind open, which helps boost your problem-solving skills. It becomes easier to think outside of the box and explore ideas that you would have canceled without a second thought in the past.
You may be struggling with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and wants to give up healthy eating and staying active. But when are willing to stay open-minded, you think about the benefits of retaining healthy living instead of giving in to the temptation of a sedentary life. This gives you the drive to continue leading a healthy lifestyle.
It Becomes Easier to Say Yes to New Experiences
Another great thing about being open-minded is that makes you broaden your horizon and embrace new experiences. You are more willing to try new things and embrace new experiences. If before, trying out new things is one thing you cannot tolerate, you become more adventurous and you start appreciating new ideas, experiences, and learning.
Trying new experiences fosters growth, satisfies your curiosity, improves your memory, and boosts your mood and motivation. It helps you overcome fears, discover new likes and talents, and even push your limits and fulfill your full potential. All in all, it helps improve your quality of life by taking on both physical, emotional, and mental challenges.
Embracing Open-mindedness
No one said being open-minded is easy. Some people can’t accept the fact that other people are better than them in some areas, have different opinions, and varying beliefs. But once you become more receptive, you get to be happier and healthier. This is not to say that you should be a yes-man to everything.
To be more open-minded, you can consider the following tips.
- Give yourself time to process new information. Instead of shutting other people’s views and opinions, consider their argument, evaluate all aspects involved, and try to state your argument without using offensive words.
- Be willing to question yourself, consider other beliefs, and see if saying yes to new insights can help you in the process.
- Confront confirmation bias. Consider arguments that challenge your own ideas by doing research and taking in new information.
- Learn something new.
- Practice meditation.
This goes to show powerful being-minded can be. You are not only helping yourself by being more open to new knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. You also get to improve different areas in your life, including your health and relationship to others. Such a trait may not come naturally, but there are things you can do so you can start being more open-minded.
