Another way you can exercise a closed mind is to take a trip. It doesn’t have to be a weeklong trip to a place 3000 miles away, even a day trip can work. I suggest a trip because after spending 7 whole days in New York, I feel as though I have made even more progress in keeping an open mind. Its not as easy as one would think to keep an open mind in an unknown place. In fact, I think it’s harder. When so much is unknown it can be really easy to find things that are familiar to cling to—especially in a city like New York. When you are in an unfamiliar place, the important thing to remember is dive in. Have fun and try new things.
That is exactly what I did when I got to New York. It was by no means easy or comfortable in such a big city, but I still opted to go for it. I explored the city alone when my friend was working and I ate places I normally would never eat. Let me tell you, New York has everything, especially food. And every place is fantastic because if you serve bad food in a big and busy city, you’re done for. I also learned all about the subway systems—and for someone who grew up in a place with virtually no public transportation, I’d like to think of it as an accomplishment!
I won’t go into too much detail about my trip because I’ll be blogging about it soon, but I did want to mention it because I think trips can be vital in keeping our minds open. Trips allow us to escape from the normalcy of our routines and let loose a little—assuming that we break out of our comfort zones when we travel. Each time we travel we are reminded that life exists (and thrives) outside of what we know. Traveling helps us see that our way of doing things is not the only way there is, which can help us develop an understanding for the different.
I would encourage everyone to take a trip. If you don’t have any vacation time coming up, even a weekend trip or a day trip can work. When you go on your trip, make sure to avoid attachments with the familiar. Don’t eat Mexican food if you are always eating Mexican food at home. Look for activities you would never normally do and don’t be afraid loosen the purse strings some. I know most people aren’t doing as well as they could be financially, but spending on vacation can be liberating. Most of us spend our time at home looking for great deals or only treating ourselves to something on special occasions. So, if you can, spend a little money on yourself—and enjoy it!!
Happy travels!
Peace and Love,
Trin
Showing posts with label open mind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label open mind. Show all posts
1.04.2010
January – Keeping an Open Mind
When asked, most people will say they’re open-minded, which could be true since there is no pinned-down definition of the term. But really, who wants to admit that they never want to try anything new? Although we try to hide it, the reality is that most of us are set in our ways—myself included. Most of the time, the actual problem is not close-mindedness—its laziness. I’m not so grounded in my ways that I am immovable and I actually get excited when people talk about trying new things. Even when people are there to push you, it can take a lot of effort to get up and go. Truth be told, when it comes to moving out of my comfort zone, I’m a couch potato. And maybe some of you feel the same way…
One thing you can do to open your mind is change your routines. For most of us, routines make up big parts of our day. Morning, work, school, dinner or late night routines can become such big parts of our day that they become second nature. Before you know it, you’re just going through the motions. For some, the thought of changing up the routines held so dear can be a little jarring. Depending on your situation and your goals, you can decide how much change you can handle when it comes to your routines.
For people who thrive on routine, start out with small changes. For example, change the order of your morning routine. You know how long it takes you to get ready, so changing the order of things won’t make you late for work or school—sorry, that excuse is out! Eat before you shower or do your make-up before you do your hair. For other small changes, take a different route to work or change up what you normally eat for breakfast.
Maybe you’re one of those people who doesn’t need as much structure, so you’re thinking, “I don’t really have routines”. Think hard, you’ll find some. For people like you, change can be found in the “typicals”. Take some effort and change where you typically eat, grocery shop or get coffee. Find all of those little regular things in your life and take the time to change them up. It may require some effort, but it is worth it.
Another thing that can open a mind is suggestion. Simply take other people’s suggestions. Sounds easy enough, right? Let’s face it, we have the tendency to judge things before we try them. Someone suggests a restaurant, we assume we won’t like the food. Someone says watch this movie, its great, but we don’t because we’ve seen the lead actress in other movies and she’s only okay. The point is that the people who are making suggestions (usually our friends) sometimes know what they’re talking about, But how would we know that if we never take their advice.
One way to expand in this area is to hang out with the friend you have. You know, that friend. We all have one—the friend who shares almost nothing in common with us and continuously offers their opinion—and you love them for it. You may not even know how you came about this person, but somehow you did...that’s a different issue though. Anyways, that friend, (or anyone else) who has different tastes can help you open up. Hang out with them, let them pick the movie, take them shopping with you—you get the idea. Embrace the differences in the people around you. Maybe you’re thinking, “There are some things I know for sure I don’t like.” I understand that—honestly, I feel that way about rap music—but you have to make sure you’re not writing everything off as something you “know for sure” you don’t like.
Again, you can choose how much change you think you can handle. You can do small things like go rent a movie you normally wouldn’t rent, or you can try for a big change and let a friend with a different style pick out a whole outfit for you. Just be careful that you don’t let suggestions rule your life. Use the suggestions to broaden you as a person, not change you into someone else.
It may seem like changing these little things won’t help to open your mind—but if you do it regularly, it will. After all, our personalities are essentially many “little things” combined into greater traits, which combine to form who we are. When we break down ourselves into the smaller components, its easier build on ourselves or shape ourselves into what we want to become. Most importantly, when we make a habit to not fall into routine and keep open minds, we become more malleable in thought and action. Being malleable might be one of the most important traits a person can have because its helps equip people for life’s curveballs. If your life is only made up of a string of routines and something unexpected comes your way (good or bad), its shatters your life. It disrupts the form and causes stress and anxiety. However, when you are used to adapting, curveball’s can look a lot different.
Hopefully, by regularly incorporating these things into your life, you’ll find that you become more open to new ideas or experiences. And even if you don’t become any more open-minded, maybe you’ll just become a little more adaptable to the little unexpected things that life will never stop throwing at you!
“There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier”--Charles F. Kettering
One thing you can do to open your mind is change your routines. For most of us, routines make up big parts of our day. Morning, work, school, dinner or late night routines can become such big parts of our day that they become second nature. Before you know it, you’re just going through the motions. For some, the thought of changing up the routines held so dear can be a little jarring. Depending on your situation and your goals, you can decide how much change you can handle when it comes to your routines.
For people who thrive on routine, start out with small changes. For example, change the order of your morning routine. You know how long it takes you to get ready, so changing the order of things won’t make you late for work or school—sorry, that excuse is out! Eat before you shower or do your make-up before you do your hair. For other small changes, take a different route to work or change up what you normally eat for breakfast.
Maybe you’re one of those people who doesn’t need as much structure, so you’re thinking, “I don’t really have routines”. Think hard, you’ll find some. For people like you, change can be found in the “typicals”. Take some effort and change where you typically eat, grocery shop or get coffee. Find all of those little regular things in your life and take the time to change them up. It may require some effort, but it is worth it.
Another thing that can open a mind is suggestion. Simply take other people’s suggestions. Sounds easy enough, right? Let’s face it, we have the tendency to judge things before we try them. Someone suggests a restaurant, we assume we won’t like the food. Someone says watch this movie, its great, but we don’t because we’ve seen the lead actress in other movies and she’s only okay. The point is that the people who are making suggestions (usually our friends) sometimes know what they’re talking about, But how would we know that if we never take their advice.
One way to expand in this area is to hang out with the friend you have. You know, that friend. We all have one—the friend who shares almost nothing in common with us and continuously offers their opinion—and you love them for it. You may not even know how you came about this person, but somehow you did...that’s a different issue though. Anyways, that friend, (or anyone else) who has different tastes can help you open up. Hang out with them, let them pick the movie, take them shopping with you—you get the idea. Embrace the differences in the people around you. Maybe you’re thinking, “There are some things I know for sure I don’t like.” I understand that—honestly, I feel that way about rap music—but you have to make sure you’re not writing everything off as something you “know for sure” you don’t like.
Again, you can choose how much change you think you can handle. You can do small things like go rent a movie you normally wouldn’t rent, or you can try for a big change and let a friend with a different style pick out a whole outfit for you. Just be careful that you don’t let suggestions rule your life. Use the suggestions to broaden you as a person, not change you into someone else.
It may seem like changing these little things won’t help to open your mind—but if you do it regularly, it will. After all, our personalities are essentially many “little things” combined into greater traits, which combine to form who we are. When we break down ourselves into the smaller components, its easier build on ourselves or shape ourselves into what we want to become. Most importantly, when we make a habit to not fall into routine and keep open minds, we become more malleable in thought and action. Being malleable might be one of the most important traits a person can have because its helps equip people for life’s curveballs. If your life is only made up of a string of routines and something unexpected comes your way (good or bad), its shatters your life. It disrupts the form and causes stress and anxiety. However, when you are used to adapting, curveball’s can look a lot different.
Hopefully, by regularly incorporating these things into your life, you’ll find that you become more open to new ideas or experiences. And even if you don’t become any more open-minded, maybe you’ll just become a little more adaptable to the little unexpected things that life will never stop throwing at you!
“There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier”--Charles F. Kettering
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
