How to Train an Open Mind?

If you want to be open to new ideas, beliefs and cultures, you’re in luck! There are many fun and simple ways to practice open-mindedness. Try new experiences and meet new people whenever possible and practice listening more than talking. Everyone has prejudices, so challenge your beliefs and try to pay attention every time you make an assumption. The more you practice, the easier it will be to communicate with people from different walks of life.

Table of Contents

Try new things

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Listen to new music genres. Try listening to a new genre of music each week by exploring streaming channels, searching the internet, or asking a friend to recommend you. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Listening to a variety of music from different regions of the world and at different historical times is a way for the brain to absorb new experiences more easily. New tunes can help you connect emotionally with new people, new lands, and new things.

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Read more novels and short stories. A good story can help you experience someone else’s life in a different time and place. Go to the library, search for anthologies, and read novels with novel plots, settings, and characters. ^{[2] X Research Source}

For example, you can read the work of authors from other countries, or read stories about struggles for recognition (such as gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation). ) of people who are not like me.

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Learn a new language. A new language will help you communicate with new people and learn more about new cultures. Find courses at your local community colleges or learn through an app. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The process of learning a new language will help you understand more about cultural barriers. Expressing a culture through words can give you insight into that culture’s values and traditions.

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Attend a service in a place of worship that is different from your usual place of worship. Try learning more about another religious tradition. You can ask a friend of another religion if you can attend the service with them. You can also find a church, mosque, Judaism, temple, pagoda or other place of worship and go there yourself. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Kansas University Center for Community Health and Development Go to source}

It would be more permissive if you ask in advance if you can go to a place of worship. You should avoid awkward situations like arriving on time for a wedding or holiday without being invited.
Go to ceremonies with an open mind. Don’t think about explaining your beliefs or trying to prove their point of view wrong. Just listen, observe, and try to show gratitude to the people you just met for sharing their time and beliefs with you.

Meet new people

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Practice listening more than talking. You can meet all the people in this world, but you won’t know anything about them without talking to them. Try to ask more questions and actively listen instead of just thinking about what you’re about to say. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

To listen actively, you need to give your full attention to the person. Don’t play with your phone or daydream while the other person is talking. Make eye contact and nod occasionally to show that you are listening, trying to visualize the events, objects, or people they are describing.

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Start a conversation with new people whenever possible. Different perspectives can help you see things from new and more mature perspectives. Every day try to talk to people from different backgrounds or with different beliefs.

For example, during your lunch break at school or at work, sit with someone you wouldn’t normally talk to.
Let the conversation flow naturally instead of suddenly asking about the other person’s religious beliefs or political views. You should try to get to know them with questions like “Where are you from?” or “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
Some universities and community organizations will organize events to bring together people from different backgrounds and perspectives. The events of the Human Library project – where people from different backgrounds volunteer to become living books you can find and chat with – will help you connect with people from all walks of life. many social classes.

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Seize the opportunity to visit many new places. You don’t have to go far to learn from your travels. You just need to find a place where a life is different from yours. Immersed in life in a new land is a great way to see the world from a different perspective. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Going abroad is a great way to understand different customs. Plan a trip to a place where people don’t speak the same language as you, and you don’t have many connections there. You can broaden your horizons as you learn to navigate an unfamiliar place without the familiar tools.
If you can’t afford to go abroad, look around for something challenging. If you live in the city, go camping in the woods for a few days. Are you living in Hanoi? Take a trip to the Northwest to meet new people, try new foods and learn about different ways of life.

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Participate in philanthropic and non-profit activities. Schedule time to join a volunteer organization where you can interact with different groups of people, such as a charity kitchen, homeless shelter or youth center. Helping people, especially those who are different from you, will help you understand how people’s wants, needs, and dreams can cross boundaries. ^{[8] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to Source}

For a truly unique experience, you might consider combining volunteering with long-distance travel. A volunteer trip, or even just a day volunteering in a new place can help you open up to completely different people and perspectives.

Challenge your beliefs

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Ask yourself how your beliefs came to be. Reflect on what you believe in and ask yourself, “Why do I believe this?” Think about the person who taught you that belief and how your life experiences have reinforced it. ^{[9] X Research Source}

For example, if you were taught from a young age that hard work is all you need to succeed, ask yourself, “Are there people who work hard but still struggle with Is life difficult? Are there other factors that can affect success besides work ethic?”

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Try to take note every time you make an assumption. Making assumptions is a natural part of thinking, but if left unchecked, assumptions can lead to closed thinking. When you meet strangers or find yourself in an unfamiliar situation, pay attention to what’s in your mind. Ask yourself if your biases are driving your actions. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Let’s say you’ve never tried pasta with pesto sauce and always thought you hated it. Ask yourself why you think you don’t like it. Is it because of the green color of the sauce? Or because you don’t like the smell of it? Maybe you can’t find any good reason to make that assumption, and you should try the pesto sauce!

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Go online to find information on new topics and new perspectives. Use your downtime to find new information whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Try searching online for articles, videos, and podcasts on academic, current, religious, and cultural topics from around the world. ^{[11] X Research Source}

You could read a new article while you wait at the bank or listen to a podcast on your daily commute.
Remember to find reliable sources. There is a lot of fake information and bias online. Look for scholarly articles, reports published by independent third-party organizations, and information from trusted sites such as government sites, universities and relevant news agencies. reputation.

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Think about the reasons why other people disagree with you. Pick a controversial topic and read some articles or listen to podcasts about it. Look for sources who have a different point of view than you do and try to think about the problem the other person’s way. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Let’s say you want to see the minimum wage increase. When you research the issue, you can read about small business owners concerned that rising payroll costs might force them to close. While you maintain your point of view, you may find that opposing views are well-founded.

Advice

Challenging your beliefs doesn’t mean you have to change them. You should just look at things from a different angle and understand that an opinion that contradicts yours may well have merits.
Confronting your fears can also help you open up your mind. If you are afraid of heights, try climbing the beginner route. Once you reach the top, remind yourself that you are absolutely safe and should focus on the beauty.

Steps

Try new things

Meet new people

Challenge your beliefs

Advice

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