Photo credit: IronRodArt - Royce Bair

o·pen-mind·ed
–adjective
1. having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.
—Random House Dictionary

When we’re young, we’re wide open to learning about the world and able to imagine almost infinite possibilities before us. The older we get, usually the more “set in our ways” we become. Apparently, this shift in open-mindedness is a neurological reality:

Babies’ brains are actually more highly connected than adult brains; more neural pathways are available to babies than adults. As we grow older and experience more, our brains ‘prune out’ the weaker, less used pathways and strengthen the ones that are used more often.

—Alison Gopnik, The Philosophical Baby

Yet there is still hope for us adults; according to Gopnik, while “young brains are also much more plastic and flexible…they are much less efficient; they don’t work as quickly or effectively.” Thus, while we might get comfortable in our habits, if we decide to put our mind to a task, we can use our minds much more effectively than children to make a change.

So how can we retain the trait of open-mindedness when our habits sound the siren call?

When you hear a new idea:

• Pause for a moment instead of going with your first reaction
• In that moment, ask yourself why you’re having that feeling or response
• Practice saying yes when you would typically say no
• Try saying no when you would normally say yes

More ways to practice open-mindedness:

• Imagine that you might hear words of wisdom from every person you meet today
• When a conflict comes up, see if you can put yourself in the other person (or persons’) shoes
• When someone criticizes you (hopefully constructively), try to listen rather than react defensively
• Acknowledge what others say even if your first reaction is negative
• Listen to others, leave space for their perspective

Even though our neural connections narrow down as we grow older, it’s always possible to add synapses and reroute or expand old pathways.

Don’t give up on yourself, the most important application of open-mindedness is to yourself, to believe in your own ability to change.

Stay tuned for more on the 10 traits of personal change:

1. Self-awareness
2. Desire to feel better
3. Belief that it is possible to feel better
4. Rigorous self-honesty
5. Humility
6. Open-mindedness
7. Detachment from others
8. Willingness
9. Persistence
10. Personal responsibility

Next: Detachment from others

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