Benny Greenberg at Ya-ttitude wrote a post called Open those Flood Gates and as I wrote my comment there I could feel a blog post coming on.

A closed mind is simply a sign of a static personality.  It allows for all progress to simply pass you by!  And as progress passes you by, so does opportunities and the ability for you to attain those goals and achievements you have set forth for yourself.  The only way you can achieve all of your dreams and goals is for you to maintain an open mind; grasping this concept is another key to your overall success.

buddha

Faith isn’t religion
A religion is a set of tenets and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, or religious law. And, at the top of the pyramid of the greatest barriers to making open minded decisions is the religious beliefs that we cling to.

Provided that you understand that I don’t have religion and I don’t mean religion, when I say “faith” then I do have faith. I have a great deal of faith in myself,  in my own ability to make good decisions, and in the ability of my fellow beings to do likewise, and that’s all the faith I need.

Core beliefs
It’s a quirk of human nature that we maintain our beliefs by selectively exposing ourselves to information that we already know is likely to support those beliefs. Yet, when we remove the emotional elements and take the time to gather information on the opposite side of any issue we are more likely to come to different conclusions. This is why it’s not surprising that gut responses based on deeply held core beliefs are not always the most accurate.

Assess the emotional urgency factor
When faced with any decision I assess the “emotional urgency” factor first. I frequently find that urgency is artificially created by others, because they are relying on a specific outcome and desiring the instant gratification, if and when it’s confirmed. So whenever possible, I choose not to make hurried decisions prompted by artificial urgency to please or satisfy others.

Another dynamic that I have become aware of is the “important decision” categorization. I’m more likely to conduct a broad based and open minded investigation of all possibilities if I assign high importance to the decision in terms of outcomes and impacts.

In cases of “important decision making” I seek out more information, I consult others and listen to their points of view, and I make lists of pros and cons, as well as possible outcomes and impacts. Whenever possible I choose to assign high importance to issues where the outcome of the decision made is likely to have a major impact on finances and /or relationships.

A mind opening process

(1)   I benefit from trying to see the situation as and an inquisitive child might view it. I try to see everything as if it’s the first time, and try to think about it in new ways.

(2)   I  benefit from writing down my goals and doing some planning for each of them.

(3)   I sometimes focus too much on details and not enough on the big picture.  By reviewing my dreams I can monitor where I’m at and notice opportunities that I have overlooked.

(4)   I’m aware that every decision I make is based on my core beliefs. To open my mind I review my core beliefs and quiz myself about each one by asking myself  why I believe it. Next I imagine that I don’t exactly believe it any more, but instead believe something marginally different, and then marginally different again.

(6)   My  core beliefs are unique to me and my friend’s core beliefs are unique to them.  An open mind is comfortable with  the differences, and also capable of using a variety of lenses to view any issue from many angles.   So I ask close friends to share their core beliefs with me and how they acquired them.

(7)    I need to make sure I take enough time to enjoy the decision making journey so I don’t reach my destination only to find that the outcome  I was hoping for has eluded me yet again. That means  I need to be sure my  dreams and goals for various parts of my life are recorded in mission and vision statements, and I need to review them regularly to verify that they are in alignment.

Dedications

This post is dedicated to the following bloggers:

buddhaofhollwood
everyoneneedstherapy
geoffreysplace.net
guidetolifeblog
lifeasiknowit22.blogspot.com
melindaville.com
pentads
Pricilla Palmer Personal Development Blog List
the happiness project
thinksimplenow.com
writetosurvive
zen habits