Keep an open mind

I think I’ve accomplished this! Done! :)

I live in the city in a beautiful location. I grew up about 45 miles outside the city, and this year I have been spending 1/2 my week in my old hometown, chillin’ with my mom and seeing whatever “old friends” are still around. I’d like to say I help Mom out, but I am such a spoiled Mamma’s boy that I would be lying.
Even though the distance is not that far, there is certainly a large seperation in perceptions and attitudes.
The rub is, I have to remember that attitudes and pre-judgements are learned, and mostly result from one form of fear or another found in ones immediate environment. What is the price one pays for not conforming to the pressures of ones peers? What is the cost of telling a parent that they are being narrow and a bigot? Did I, honestly, even posess the ability?
The un-doing is as easy as the doing. Being open and fair and non-judgemental is as easy as recognizing it and refusing to partake in it. It gets easier with time… and it is a learned behaviour. And, it is WAY rewarding!

I embrace diversity and I reject non-supportive judgement. I refuse to live a fear based life. There are billions of people on this planet but only one me. Everyone is different and each of us has goodness to share with others. YAY US!

is a happy mind. i don’t feel like everything is predictable anymore.

the trick is to keep it this way.

is an opportunity to make art, feel connected, or discover something new. it doesn’t matter who you’re around. everyone has within them the capacity to enlighten and inspire if you listen intently.

i’m starting to realize this.

i always thought it true before but never felt it deep down, until now.

I read an interview with her about her writings on open-mindedness through questioning your beliefs and considering the opposite of what is “true.” it’s a very interesting process and i’d like to apply it in my own life, as a part of this goal.

there’s more about byron katie and “the work” on her website, byronkatie.com

I “don’t have time” for ideas and things and PEOPLE that don’t make sense at first, but it’s occured to me that everything makes sense if you give it long enough time in your presence. I get really impatient and pissed off but I think it will be well worth it for myself and others if I give things more time.

This goal is really important to me, and I hope that I will improve on it with time. I think that as children we’re really open minded but then different influences can close our minds up as we grow up for whatever reasons. I think it’s not good to be too naive but I would like to be less judgemental. Of course sometimes we can’t help but think certain things upon first impressions but just keeping an open mind means that I can change that perception if I need to…and it’s something I need to remember because it also relates to my anxiety problems…I need to keep an open mind that negative outcomes won’t always be the result, sometimes things turn out for the best :)

Lots of times I tend to shut down when there’s change or something unexpected. I don’t want to do this, I’m just scared, or scared that I’ll be disappointed because of my extremely high expectations. Maybe I should try to find three good things about any situation before I think of all the bad things.

First impressions are not always accurate depictions of a person.