Open Your Mind
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By :
Xander Hamilton-Reeves
Submitted
2009-09-07 09:45:01 |
Expand Your Mind
An Open Mind can see the world in such a different manner. Those who have a narrow vision miss out on many wonderful things in life, because of their refusal to just expand their way of thinking.
How many opportunities for wealth and happiness do you want to pass up? How many adventures just pass on by?
An Open Mind is by definition a mental state of being receptive to information or ideas, however not having this mindset will leave you closed off from potentially life changing information and activities.
Here we will show you how you can open your mind and see that your evaluations should be based on your willingness to judge all information and then form an opinion, not using preconception and generalization.
The Great Misconception
Isn't it interesting that an open mind is often judged so wrongly by those without one. There is an unfortunate misconception that to be open minded means you must be gullible and that you will be easily duped into mystical nonsenses and half truths.
The reality, though is the opposite, because by widening your view you can access all necessary information, but how can you make an assessment without total open mindedness? - You Can't.
Being receptive minded isn't about "believing" in the mystical world of astrology, tarot cards or palm readings - No, not at all, these beliefs are perfect for some people, but to take the opinion that these are not real, is well within the confines of open mindedness, because it's a personal decision. Your beliefs are yours, but to believe that there is a predisposition is, well, unintelligent.
The receptive mind is a mind that is willing to take on the wider picture and make evaluations based on all possibilities not just a stuffy set of personal beliefs.
Our test will help you to evaluate the way you perceive or preconceive the world around you and how you can beat the misconceptions you make.
The Open Mind Test
Try these questions out to assess your predeterminations and biases.
1. Do you know a reasonable amount about religions that are not your own?
2. Have you looked at all major political parties and their policies to make your judgments?
3. Do you judge whether you will view a movie by the story not by the actors in it?
4. Do you dismiss generalizations as lazy thinking?
5. Do you think that crime is poverty and culturally driven not racially driven?
6. Do you applaud other opposing sports teams for good quality performances?
7. Do you ever try something even though others didn't enjoy it?
8. Do you like to try new things to find out if you may like them?
9. Do you dismiss other opinions of people until you have had the chance to make an evaluation yourself?
10. Do you question authority, history or religion and look for facts and further information?
So how did you fare?
8-10 Yes - You are very open minded
5-7 Yes - You have potential
2-4 Yes - You need to ask more questions of the world
0-1 Yes - You need an wide minded solution
Creating The Expanded Mind
If you think perhaps, that you could benefit from an receptive mind then there are thing to do to start widening your view of the world. Challenging your perspectives may just be the solution.
Here are 10 exercises to help you open your mind
1. Listen to music that you never thought you would like.
2. Read a novel that holds no interest for you.
3. Wiki another religion's ideology for a balanced view.
4. Argue against a point that you hold to be true.
5. Go to a concert that is out of your comfort zone.
6. Paint, sculpt or create an abstract art work.
7. Be curious, be interested in the world.
8. Make evaluations based on a wide collection of information, not just generalities.
9. Don't be dismissive, but ask for more detail at the same time.
10.Instill the ambition to become a more open minded person and act accordingly.
The idea is to challenge your perceptions and what you have been taught. Open your mind to the possibilities that you may find other sources of information more powerful and compelling. An open mind can open doors and widen your perception of the way the world around you really works.
Why Expanding Your Mind Is Better
The aim of these exercises is to push the boundaries that a closed way of thinking can create, as well as to make the process of receptive minded evaluation a habitual solution.
When you look outside of conventional wisdom, think outside the box and make your own evaluations, not just rely on opinions, you can open your mind and broaden your intelligence as you learn more and perceive things more critically.
Remember, an open mind isn't about believing everything, it's about challenging the narrow mindedness with wide scope knowledge and intellectual evaluation.
If you truly seek to become a well rounded, intellectually integrated person then you surely must take action to keep your mind wide and ready for information that you may have previously disregarded. Become open minded and gain a new outlook for good.
Open Your Mind By A.J James
For more on critical thinking, building IQ and memory improvement try these:
How To Increase Your Intelligence
Creative Intelligence
Critical Thinking Defined
Critical Thinking for Beginners
How To Act Smarter
Backwards Thinking
Brain Foods
Intelligence Enhancing Supplements
Intellectual Barriers
The Ultimate Memory Exercises
Easy Memory Tips
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