Dare To Live Without Limits Week Of 4/11/2022

By: 
Bryan Golden

Being open-minded and tolerant has many benefits

Being open-minded and tolerant has lots of great benefits. You’ll be less stressed because being tolerant of someone else means you are not in competition with them. You will be more confident with your thoughts when you realize you are not threatened by others.
You’ll gain insight by opening your mind to how others think. You can pick up new ideas or concepts that haven’t occurred to you. Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes provides a different perspective.
Being open-minded fuels personal growth. You learn about the people and the world around you. You’ll discover what motivates others. You’ll gain insight into why people think and act the way they do.
Mental strength is enhanced through open-mindedness and tolerance. Being open to new ideas and experiences helps you understand your own beliefs, while enabling you to make adjustments if needed. Knowing your beliefs allows you to remain strong when dealing with negative influences.
Open-minded and tolerant people share many characteristics. They are curious about what others think and ask questions to gain insight. They are confident enough with their own viewpoints to have them challenged. They are willing to adjust their thinking based on new or changed information.
Open-minded people don’t get angry if they find they were wrong. They want their thinking to be accurate rather than holding on to untenable positions. They think for themselves instead of complying with group think.
Tolerant people have empathy for others who think differently. They never attempt to force their beliefs onto someone else. They seek to understand the basis of other people’s thinking rather than criticizing them.
Tolerant people are secure with themselves so they never attempt to put others down. Tolerant people are not threatened by someone holding opposite views. They recognize that each person has their own unique perception.
Here are some approaches which build open-mindedness and tolerance. Recognize that acceptance doesn’t mean agreement. Don’t be judgmental or jump to conclusions. You can acknowledge someone else’s opinions without taking them personally.
Be curious. If you are not sure what another person is thinking or why, ask open-minded questions. Don’t be snide or belittling. Don’t use attack questions. Ask with a sincere desire to learn about their motivation and perception.
Be willing to have your ideas challenged. If you can’t support your ideas with sound reasoning, be open to changing them based on new information. As an open-minded person you want to ensure your ideas make sense because they are based on reality.
Open-minded people don’t become upset if they are proven wrong. Instead, they welcome the opportunity to incorporate new information into their outlook. They avoid becoming so fixated on specific beliefs that they resist changing their beliefs regardless of any new information they encounter.
Tolerant people accept people for who they are without trying to change them. Tolerant people understand that each individual has their own unique perception of the world and recognize that there is room for diversity of thought.
Seek to see things from the other person’s perspective. Put yourself in their shoes. Don’t attack their beliefs. If you don’t agree with their thinking, strive to understand their perspective. Ask them what their beliefs are based on.
The best way to develop open-mindedness and tolerance is through practice. Connect with as many people as possible who think differently than you. Learn about their thoughts and ideas without talking about yours. Ask questions and be a good listener.
Being open-minded and tolerant of other people is an invaluable character trait. It builds your foundation by exposing you to other ways of thinking. Take every opportunity to practice.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.  2022 Bryan Golden

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