How to Be Open-Minded to New Ideas

 

If you have definite ideas about how things are or how they should be, you’ve probably had someone tell you to “keep an open mind.” Having an open mind is important to succeed in life.

Embracing, or at least considering, new ideas and technologies is vital to our personal growth.

Are you willing to consider someone else’s opinion? Can you look at facts that may seem suspect and analyze them without bias? If you’re open-minded, you can be flexible when met with new ideas. It means you can adapt to new experiences.

Being able to think critically is a vital component of being open-minded. In our quickly changing technological world, it’s important to keep an open mind in order to keep up and stay current, rather than missing out on all the new things around us.

It’s also important to be willing to change your views when you’re given new facts. This could prove crucial depending on your chosen profession. For example, as a police officer or lawyer, being willing to see things from a different perspective could help you achieve greater successes.

Here are some ways to learn how to be open-minded to new ideas:

1.      Decide now that you don’t have to be right all the time. While it’s not unusual for some people to be obsessed with being right, it’s not something that’s looked favorably upon. No one can be right all the time, not even you!

• Try to be relaxed when discussing new ideas rather than having a knee-jerk reaction to be right.

2.      Recognize that there are many reasons why people have certain beliefs. They may be from a different country or have different life experiences that have shaped those beliefs. Someone born at an earlier time would also see things differently than you.

3.      Learn to listen carefully. Rather than jumping in with your opinion, let the other person finish speaking. Then use active, or reflective, listening to understand and clarify their ideas:

• Repeat back to them what you understood. Respectfully ask questions when you don’t understand or agree with their standpoint.

4.      Look at things from a different perspective. Before deciding that a new idea doesn’t have merit, consider doing some research to understand the concept better. Consider the way the other person explained the idea and see if it makes more sense after you’ve researched it.

5.      “Walk a mile” in someone else’s shoes. Spend some time volunteering in your community. This will allow you to see things from a different perspective and with certain limitations.

6.      Take time to try something new. There’s no better way to open your mind to new ideas than to attempt a new task. Learning new skills or taking up a new hobby can open your mind in ways that nothing else will. Give it a try; you may be pleasantly surprised!

It’s true that being open-minded can be an advantage in many aspects of life, however, don’t be too quick to become open-minded about everything. There may be some deeply held beliefs that you don’t want to leave by the wayside in order to embrace openness. That’s okay!

While you’re learning to be open-minded to new ideas, remember that it’s fine and good to hold onto some beliefs and stand up for what you believe in.

 

Just because an idea is new to you doesn’t mean you must agree with it in order to be open-minded. Having an open mind will strengthen your skills to evaluate new ideas intelligently and choose truth in your life.

Free Tips to Increase Your Happiness and Confidence Levels

Finding the Power of Your Own Energy

Five Things I've Learned to Become Successful in Life

by Patric Chan

Another month has passed and life continues to grow towards what you want or the other way round.

Did you set a goal early this year? Well, did you get what you want by now - after so many months of working hard for it? Apparently, most people don't and that's the problem with setting goals.

We cannot be setting goals with the intention of trying to get what we want because that will become a chasing game which will wear you out. Maybe not for you, but I know I will when I'm chasing 'something'. The goal must be a part of us. My goal is to become who I want and where I want to be mentally and physically.

Your goals must be something that you achieve internally so that you can see it, taste it, smell it and feel it.

Wealth. Love. Connection. Knowledge. Experience.

If you were to evaluate what's success, it boils down to being happy.

I'm not trying to play Zen Master here but to make a point how we make our lives complicated without understanding the true purpose of our action. Life doesn't have to be that way.

There are a few things I've learned from observations and experiencing this year and I'm glad to share them with you today. Who knows, they may give you a shortcut for your journey to obtain the success you're seeking...

i. Your mind attracts what you want. This year, I have my fair share of enjoying successes and experiencing setbacks in life. And when I sit back to think about it, they come in 'sequences'. Once I've gained success, I'll have the momentum to get another one. When I failed and stay in that state, another failure will come again. I don't know, some called it Law of Attraction. To me, I strongly believe that you get what you want based on what your mind thinks because it 'attracts'.

ii. There's one time Grandma falls sick and stayed in the hospital for couple of days. When I visited her in the hospital, I felt blessed that she's still in this beautiful world. Although it's nothing serious, but my heart tells me one thing- nothing in this world will give me the same love and relationship I have with her.

There are only two factors that will remove your love and relationship with someone you care about- when he/she is no longer here or you have ignored the treasure you have today for something that is less valuable but perceived to be valuable. Let me warn you-- once they're gone, they're gone. You should know who to call, hug or kiss by now.

iii. Know your roots. If you're successful today, you're probably once a 'nobody'. Always be humble because it will give you more success in life. I mean, isn't that how you got to where you are today? Knowing your roots also means remembering those who have supported you when you're growing and stayed by your side through thin and thickness. They are just there because they want to be there for you with no other hidden expectations.

iv. Explore life like there's no ending. Listen to new music. Visit new places. Eat at new restaurants. Play new sports. Meet new people. And an endless list of things you can do regardless of whether you're wealthy or not. You see, money doesn't stop you from exploring life. Obviously, you can't do the many things that Bill Gates or Richard Branson can do but there are easily hundreds of things you can do with what you have today. Do you know why we live? I don't have the answer but I'm 100% sure it's not to work and whine about what we don't have.

v. Life is great. As I'm writing this, I'm in my new condominium with nice yellow lightings, listening to a wonderful music and my wife is making a cup of coffee for me. I can feel the cool breeze coming in from the balcony while sitting on a soft brand new, purple sofa. In front of me, I can see a mirror- and when I looked deep; I thank God for giving me this amazing life. Not because my Ego's saying I have an amazing life, but it's really true.

You have an amazing life whether you want to admit it or not. There are people sleeping on the streets today, wandering to look for food and so on. Because you're reading this, I dare to assume that you have a computer- which also means that you're under a roof and are an educated person. You have eyes to read and a wonderful brain to think. For that, life is already great. The rest are bonuses.

Some might complain about being financially broke. You can be broke but you can never be poor because being broke is a temporarily state that can be changed. It might not be now but with sheer persistence and effort combined with using the right information and a willingness to take action, it's just a matter of time before you look back satisfied and said, “I was once broke but now, I'm wealthy and living the life I've always wanted.” Does that sound good? Then, why not make it a reality because you can.

-------------------------------------------
Patric Chan is an international speaker, author and the creator of Success Trace. Find out how you can use his secrets to massively accelerate your wealth and success, Click Here.

Dania
www.selfconfidencesuccessandhappiness.blogspot.com/

Tips for Happiness in Daily Life

Peace of Mind in Daily Life
A complete home training course,
for gaining true inner peace, mental mastery
and freedom from anxiety and worries.
Visit http://skadoogle.com/!Buddy/SuccessandConsciousness





by Remez Sasson

Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy. It is true, we meet all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may not be conductive to happiness. We can choose to keep thinking about the unhappy events, and we can choose to refuse to think about them, and instead, relish the happy moments. All of us constantly go through various situations and circumstances, but we do not have to let them influence our reactions and feelings.

If we let outer events influence our moods, we become their slaves. We lose our freedom. We let our happiness be determined by outer forces. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives.

What is happiness? It is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. It is usually experienced when there are no worries, fears or obsessing thoughts, and this usually happens, when we do something we love to do or when we get, win, gain or achieve something that we value. It seems to be the outcome of positive events, but it actually comes from the inside, triggered by outer events.

For most people, happiness seems fleeting and temporary, because they allow external circumstances to affect it. One of the best ways to keep it, is by gaining inner peace through daily meditation. As the mind becomes more peaceful, it becomes easier to choose the happiness habit.

Here are a few tips for increasing happiness in daily life:

1) Endeavor to change the way you look at things. Always look at the bright side. The mind may drag you to think about negativity and difficulties. Don't let it. Look at the good and positive side of every situation.

2) Think of solutions, not problems.

3) Listen to relaxing, uplifting music.

4) Watch funny comedies that make you laugh.

5) Each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.

6) Watch your thoughts. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.

7) Always look at what you have done and not at what you haven't.

Sometimes you may begin the day with the desire to accomplish several objectives. At the end of the day you might feel frustrated and unhappy, because you haven't been able to do all of those things.

Look at what you have done, not at what you have not been able to do. You may have accomplished a lot during the day, and yet you let yourself become frustrated, because of some small things that you did not accomplish. You have spent all day successfully carrying out many plans, and instead of feeling happy and satisfied, you look at what was not accomplished and feel unhappy. It is unfair toward yourself.

8) Each day do something good for yourself. It can be something small, such buying a book, eating something you love, watching you favorite program on TV, going to a movie, or just having a stroll on the beach.

9) Each day do at least one act to make others happy. This can be a kind word, helping your colleagues, stopping your car at the crossroad to let people cross, giving your seat in a bus to someone else, or giving a small present to someone you love. The possibilities are infinite. When you make someone happy, you become happy, and then people try to make you happy.

10) Always expect happiness.

11) Do not envy people who are happy. On the contrary, be happy for their happiness.

12) Associate with happy people, and try to learn from them to be happy. Remember, happiness is contagious.

13) Do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. Detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. Detachment is not indifference. It is the acceptance of the good and the bad and staying balanced. Detachment has much to do with inner peace, and inner peace is conductive to happiness.

14) Smile more often.


Dania
http://www.selfconfidencesuccessandhappiness.blogspot.com/