Monday Mindset
Stay open
Here with your Monday Mindset, and we’re going to be digging in even further to the building block of curiosity this week by honing in on the importance of:
Openness
Let’s dive right in!
I do not think that I will ever reach a stage when I will say, "This is what I believe. Finished." What I believe is alive ... and open to growth.
Madeleine L’Engle
The distinction between curiosity and openness is subtle but important. Curiosity is the willingness and desire to learn, while openness is the ability to engage in new experiences and ideas.
It takes us beyond the awareness and desire to learn things to the experience of embracing it. In other words, curiosity leads us there (to new possibilities), but openness brings us across the threshold.
Open-minded people seek new experiences and variety in their lives. In practical terms, this could look like being willing to try new foods, travel to new places, or participate in new activities. It doesn’t have to mean changing our personality or completely overhauling our lifestyle. As with most areas of life, nuance is key. Learning to be more intentionally open is likely to feel uncomfortable at first, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Each small step where we embrace what we’re curious about will lead us to stronger self awareness.
One of the major keys of openness is letting go of the need to be right. When we remove this, we can see things more objectively. We can test things out without it being a threat to our identity.
We are meant to change as we grow—to shed old beliefs and habits as we outgrow them and to embrace the wisdom that expands our understanding and meets us where we are. We are in process throughout our lives, and we are constantly learning new things. We have to be willing to let go of the things that no longer serve us instead of holding too tightly to them.
There is nothing wrong with routine and tradition, but when the pull toward the familiar keeps us from growth, we need to rethink the wisdom of our ways. Openness doesn’t mean changing everything about ourselves, but it does lead us to new possibilities. If we’re feeling stuck in a rut, openness may be the key to lift us up and put us on to a new path.
While openness can lead us to greater understanding and acceptance of the world around us, it can also bring us to deeper places within our hearts, minds, and lives. We can embrace activities that foster our growth, as well as our inner connection by honoring our needs and our desires.
Open curiosity allows us to explore different ways of being than we are used to. This includes how we treat ourselves. If we have been accustomed to ignoring our emotions, our instincts, or our desires, allowing ourselves to explore this kaleidoscope within ourselves can be life-altering. With self-trust as the foundation, curiosity can show us new pathways where we can openly embrace who we are and who we want to be.
How open are you to doing things in a new way?
How about trying new things?
Change up your routine.
This could look like taking a different route to work, having your morning coffee in a different space, or going to a different grocery store. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering to open you up to a new way of doing things.
What do you notice as you step out of your routine, even in small ways? Stay open to the pulls of curiosity, and follow through in simple ways.
On Wednesday, we’ll be looking at the link between openness and creativity. You can upgrade your subscription at any point to get access to that. Otherwise, I’ll see you next Monday.
Embrace the possibilities that come your way throughout the week, and lean into curiosity. There is always more at work than what we already see. There’s an open invitation to noticing, learning, and expanding our awareness each day.
Go in grace, in softness, and in openness, friends!