Most people crave to become successful and deal with the upcoming challenges—both personal and professional— with ease. Yet, it takes some mental effort to reach this goal. Open-mindedness might be the key, but what do we know about it and how do we obtain it?

Defining the Term

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, open-mindedness is willing to consider options and ideas that differ from your own. Open-minded individuals can also be called tolerant, receptive, and unbiased.

This short description may seem to say enough, but when it comes to evaluating your own mindset, there may be confusion. In cases like this, self-reflection is a good method to apply when you want to discover something about yourself and get rid of outdated or incorrect beliefs.

How to Understand If You've Developed an Open-Minded Attitude

If you want to make sure you possess an open mindset, there are a few questions to ask yourself. Here we list them with short explanations and comments on why it matters.

Do I feel angry or annoyed when I am wrong?

Feeling insecure is fine when you make a mistake, but your emotions should not prevail over a reasonable, well-thought reaction. If a failure touches you too deeply, try to analyze why it matters so much to you. Is there a conviction you are not ready to let go of? Are you afraid of ruining your worldview? Do you have some perfect self-image of a person who never fails? Do you feel like you need to prove yourself right consistently?

Am I sincerely interested in what other people think?

You may feel like you are 100% right and listen to another opinion just to be polite, but in that case, you lose a chance to broaden take on different perspectives and discover some details you have not revealed for some reason yet. Remember: where there is no wish to change, self-development ends.

Do I tend to boast of my expertise?

Being too loud about your knowledge does not let you hear others clearly; when you let someone else express their point of view, it then is easier for you to learn something new. Besides, being humble can be a working strategy to avoid making extra mistakes if you worry about embarrassing yourself in any way.

Can I handle someone challenging my ideas?

Trying to always be right limits you from new situations and interesting experiences. Are you ready to discover the world around you through debate? A conversation can be the key to deepening your knowledge on the chosen topic and, therefore, self-development. Constantly sticking to your existing beliefs makes you less resilient and effective in the long run.

This short examination, in fact, is a form of self-awareness. If you look closer at the list of questions above, you will see that the issue of an open or closed mindset has a lot to do with insecurity and fear of uncertainty. Those, in turn, are complex conceptions and can lead to a whole other dispute.

What Does ‘Closed-Mindedness’ Stand For?

Having defined the term ‘open-mindedness’, let’s probe deeper into what its opposite means.

A close-minded thinking is often based on the following:

refusing to compromise;
fear of change;
zero willingness to consider the opposite views;
having trouble empathizing with others;
following the stereotypes and prejudice;
dismissing even slightly controversial or new ideas;
falling for the confirmation bias;
a lack of interest in learning;
giving in to challenges or difficulties.

All of the tendencies above exhibit a passive position, where one becomes defensive and sometimes even might lose their temper trying to advocate their views.

What other risks does a closed mindset bring with it?

The drawbacks of closed-mindedness

Tunnel vision. The chances to see the world in all its diversity lower as you constantly choose to support only one point of view.
Anxiety. If you only consider one outcome acceptable, it will be emotionally hard to cope with any different scenarios.
Lack of research skills. Confirmation bias overwhelmingly affects one's ability to explore. If you have a firmly established view on some issue, you will search for confirmation, creating biased requests.
Decrease of ingenuity. Self-limiting can’t boost creative thinking. Abstract concepts get out of reach of a closed mind.
Inclination to conflicts. A lack of empathy with a drip of conservatism may provoke situations where the misunderstanding gets critical and bursts out in an aggressive way.
Little to no adaptability. Sticking to certain ways of thinking or acting cuts down on the possibilities and forms of self-expression.

Still, you have to remember that switching to another type of mindset is only a matter of time and effort, Dr. Jacob Towery, adjunct clinical instructor in the department of psychiatry proves.

The Contrast Between Open-Minded and Closed-Minded Thinking

As the difference between closed- and open-mindedness gets more vivid, let’s take a look at it in a more practical way. What attitude is typical for each way of thinking? What are you likely to hear?

Open-Minded Say:	Close-Minded Say:
I see your point; maybe there is something for me to learn from.	I won't accept other ideas.
Seems like a puzzle to solve!	It is an obstacle I won't overcome.
I'm open to your objections, let's discuss!	You probably just don't know as much as I do.
I accept your feedback, and I will reflect on it to see my area of personal growth.	This was offensive!
Yes, I'm ready to discover new opportunities!	I'm only good in one field, can I stick to that?
We should try a new approach: maybe we can make it work better and faster!	Let's keep it as it is—better safe than sorry.
I can express my thoughts in many ways!	I had my explanation, and that’s it.
How can we make it better?	I know the way to deal with it, and it isn’t bad.
I’m eager to research.	I already know what I will find.
I’m up for a challenge!	I won’t try, it’s not worth it.

This table gives you another key to understanding what way of thinking you lean towards. It’s a nice and simple way to figure out if you have any bad habits in thinking and see what needs to change in your attitude.

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Open-Mindedness: How It Enhances Creativity and Problem-Solving

A huge benefit of becoming open-minded is the ability to be rich in your interpretations and create more than one possible outcome of any situation. Open-mindedness makes your fantasy work as there are so many new ideas to consider!

But how exactly does this happen, and why is a broad mind a key to successful problem-solving?

It forces you to move on quicker

At first glance, it does not have much in common with solving any problems, but, in fact, the connection is quite clear: the more you are ready to accept whatever circumstances, the easier it is for you to come up with other ideas of making it beneficial for you.

Let’s say you find yourself in a situation where you suddenly have to leave your rented apartment and find a new one to live in. This happened in a blink of an eye, and so you have to act quickly.

A conservative person who gets used to everything fast would probably feel devastated. It is one of the dominant drawbacks of closed-mindedness: it does not let you see the picture clearly and begin moving forward as you are too attached to the past.

An open-minded person, who sees problems as challenges, would likely focus not on the trouble itself, but rather on the solution, and start looking for a new home right away, involving all sources available: your friends and connections, online services, special agencies, social media, and so on, finging the right place much faster. These are the things that could not even come to mind of a narrow-minded person.

A positive reaction in a critical situation makes you think outside the box and hence, makes the creative juices flow.

It makes you benefit from failures

Failure can be a forceful power to develop if you possess a positive and open attitude, but it doesn’t work like that for everyone. Let’s think of a situation where it is noticeable.

You have to make a presentation for work but fail to deliver the information correctly. You get critical feedback and see where the mistakes took place. A case is upsetting, but it is one of that new experiences that give you a clearer vision of what to do next time to succeed, and probably even supplies you with the new instruments to do so.

What would a closed-minded person do after receiving a not-so-positive reaction to their work? Possibility is they would give up trying, which does not make them effective or useful as an employee.

That’s why an open mindset plays great role not only in your mental stability but also turns everything that happens to you into imminent luck.

It lets you establish useful connections

When it comes to establishing new friendships or work relations, a conservative and restricted attitude will serve you no good. An open mind identifies the possibilities easily and helps you detect like-minded people in no time.

An example to support this statement goes like this: imagine a person who passionately and exclusively supports only one certain political party and defies any other leanings. What are the chances they will find any associates? This person may be smart, reading books a lot and delivering their message reasonably and clearly, but it wouldn't be that helpful if there is nobody to discuss it with.

On the contrary, a broad-minded individual who is ready to look for common sense is much more likely to establish connections that, in time, can lead to a pleasant and fruitful collaboration. Communication is a powerful tool for exchanging experiences and getting some new perspectives. Would this be likely to happen if the person we talk about was only sure of themselves and didn’t listen to the others? That’s quite a rhetorical question as success is about persistence and trying again and again.

Practical Ways to Foster Open-Minded Thinking

To go on having an open mindset and not fall victim to excessive self-limits, you can follow this guide:

Check upon your biases. It’s nice to make a short revision of your firm beliefs from time to time. Where did you get those from? How long have you had these ideas? Are all of them up-to-date? How did they grow so strong? Do they pass the reality check?

Consider not less than two ways of interpretation. The can be misconstructions due to your personal background other people are not aware of, so why not try to think how else you can perceive what you’ve heard?

Make new connections. Exploring the world through discussions and making new discoveries is an efficient way to foster open-mindedness.

Let yourself make some mistakes. There will always be some sudden undiscovered methods of getting knowledge, so don’t try to make everything perfect. Striving for perfection doesn’t let you enjoy neither the journey, not the destination. So, in case you failed, take a deep breath, gain insight, and move on with new experience.

Look for the benefits. The attempts to always have a win-win situation can be exhausting; you better turn your ‘loss’ into a ‘lose-win’ with the power of open-minded thinking.

How to Support Open-Minded Growth in Others: Practical Tips for Encouragement

Can you force others to keep an open mind? Not exactly, but there are softer ways to do so and make your community aware of their mindset.

Fuel their interest. Encourage gaining more knowledge in a certain field they are curious about.
Be empathetic. It is much easier for people to try and agree on a different opinion when they see that the opponent treats them well. Let them be heard and know their feelings are valid.
Set a good example. Personal growth with clearly visible successful results is truly contagious, so dare them to follow your lead and try. Share your experience and explain your worldview—it can be a huge motivation to those in doubt.
Celebrate their achievements. Emphasize the best practices and provide supportive criticism so that people feel safe around you and dare to do more.

Final word

An open mindset is a skill you can either possess or develop with time. It comes with many benefits like сreativity, empathy, and resistance to hardship, and has a positive impact on overall mental state. Cultivating open-mindedness can be achieved with not that much effort, but significantly enhance the quality of life. So don’t be afraid to open your mindset to the world’s diversity, never stop learning, and get out of your comfort zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be open-minded?

In simple terms, an open-minded person is one who easily accepts new views and ideas. It doesn’t mean, however, that an open-minded man or woman can’t stick firmly to their beliefs. Having an open mindset basically includes empathy, curiosity, and pursuit of knowledge that lets one constantly learn and develop, expanding their horizons.

How do I see if I am open- or closed-minded?

There are some established measurements that can help you define yourself as an open- or closed-minded person. Yet, there is a simpler way: just watch your reactions for different opinions, feedback, and challenges. If all of the things on this list take on smoothly or even make you feel excited,—e.g., you prefer taking on new projects instead of always working on the same things, or you take criticism as your chance to develop, and not as an offend—then it is quite likely you possess an open mindset.

On the contrary, those who lean towards repetitive actions and familiar environments, but fear new tasks or responsibilities, would fall in the closed-minded category.

What are the benefits of being open-minded?

Firstly, an open mindset fosters strong cognitive skills: you literally become smarter as open-mindedness goes hand-in-hand with constant learning something new. There is no way to avoid new information if you are receptive to ideas and opinions that differ from the ones you already possess.

Secondly, you can develop empathy and collaborate effectively with other people. A closed mindset would not let you find common ground with someone who has a different point of view, yet an open one can easily lead to a discussion, which, in turn, makes you a better interlocutor.

Finally, open-mindedness makes you resilient and lets you adapt to life changes more easily, which is a useful professional and personal trait.

How can I become open-minded?

Make sure to consider new opportunities and don’t back off from something you are not yet familiar with;
Take feedback as a chance to see your areas of development and improve, pay attention to what others may see better than you, and be objective with yourself;
Stop viewing challenges as insuperable problems and make them tasks instead—a positive outlook can significantly increase your chances of finding a fast and simple solution.

That is how open-mindedness works!

Does open-mindedness affect my mental health?

It sure does, especially in the long run. For example, open-minded people tend to have fewer concerns about their future life as they are ready to perceive more outcomes and opportunities that are there. Hence, there is no need to deal with anxiety, which is known to be among the most common mental health issues.

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