Being open - minded is key in a world of bubbles
We live in a more and more divided world. We think in black and white, rich, and poor, young, and old and don’t realize how we are not capable anymore to talk to people around us with different and often even completely controversial opinions. But why is this so, and how can we manage to keep an open mind in this world?
We all live in bubbles in today’s world. Through social media and algorithms, we are only exposed to news and opinions of likeminded individuals around us, that share our values and beliefs. Our opinions are therefore formed with the help of algorithms, that make sure we only get exposed to what fits into the values of the bubble we find ourselves in. It is very important for us to realize this, and the fact that there are other opinions out there.
It is very easy and comfortable to stay within our bubble. To go out of our comfort zone of like-minded people is where it gets difficult and often painful. However, it is important. It is essential that we don’t lose the skill of arguing with people that share different values and beliefs than our own and that we enjoy the argument sometimes. This, way we stay open - minded to others around us. If we only stay within our comfortable bubble, we develop into close minded individuals that lose track with the changes of the world around us.
Open – mindedness is not only important in our thinking and values, but also in our doing. We should try something new from time to time, even if it initially feels scary and uncomfortable. We can start with small things, like trying a new hobby which we never thought we could start or learning about something new that caught our attention. If we stay open – minded and practice trying something new outside of our comfort zone with small things, it is also easier for us to have an open mind with larger decisions in our life. This could for example be our future careers, or our place of living.
It is very important to highlight here, open – mindedness does not mean abandoning our core values and beliefs that every one of us has. Those will always provide a framework for decisions and paths we go on in our lives, however it is important that those values and beliefs do not lead to close - mindedness and the lack of being open for new and often unknown things. For example, if we always go to the same supermarket, why not try a new one the next day? Or why not start learning a new language that we thought we never could?
Being open minded will make us more fulfilled and let’s us deal with change in a much better and less anxious way. Being open for the new and unknown will help us not feel lost in an ever faster changing world around us. It will help us stay connected with the world around us as well as stay young and excited for new things coming towards us.
Stay open -minded, without abandoning your core beliefs and paths in live - it will bring you far. Get out of your bubble from time to time to see what’s out there. You can then form your own opinions if you like the new or not, but at least you are aware of it, what so many people who only live in the bubbles these days are missing out on. So, get out there and exchange opinions and discover new things, it will do you good.
