Dr. Rajesh Bhola
India
Mar 29, 2013
India
Mar 29, 2013
We
tend to be more “close-minded” than “open-minded,” especially when it
comes to change. This is our psychological way to protect ourselves from
the emotional pain of change. One of my friends, O.P Gupta, was the
Head of the credit department at the regional office of a nationalised
bank, and was very good at credit appraisal. When computers were
introduced, he felt ‘challenged’. He confided in me, “I’d like to say
that I’m a fairly open-minded person; but, like most people, I do have
some pretty strong apprehensions and views about specific topics, and
find it hard to change those opinions – no matter how much others might
try to persuade me.” His juniors tried to persuade him, and told him
repeatedly that, “Sir, you will learn, and get used to it soon”. But he
could not – and applied for VRS, and bid adieu to his job.
Now,
more than ever, we live in a world that is constantly changing. In
order to keep up, we must be open to new experiences, and new ways of
looking at things. If we do not stay ‘current’, we will miss out on the
wonderful new technologies that are making our lives easier and more
interesting by the day. People who are open-minded are willing to change
their views when presented with new facts and evidence. Society as a
whole has become more liberal, and circumstances that were not
acceptable earlier are accepted now. Being open-minded also helps us
with problem-solving. First, it helps us look at more than one way to
approach a problem; then, we also find more expansive ways of solving
it. When we give ourselves more options, better solutions undoubtedly
are taken.
Current
cultural norms tend to insulate and isolate us from contrary opinions,
evidence and experience. We live in a cocoon of our own making, with the
threads of the cocoon not being perceptible to us. We live blind to
some important aspects of reality, though we probably believe that we
are open-minded and quite well-informed. The open mind is always hungry,
looking for some new thoughts to add to its collection. The open mind
knows that its own thinking is almost always incomplete. An open mind
takes pride in learning from others. It would rather listen than speak.
The open mind has insight for evaluating the quality of its own
thinking, to see gaps that need to be filled. Everything we shut our
eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or
despise, serves only to defeat us. What seems nasty, painful and evil
can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open
mind. If Gupta had opened his mind and thought of coming out of his
cocoon, life could have been different. He could have continued in a
career which he otherwise loved so much.
Open-mindedness
is one of the most sought-after employee traits. Being open-minded
means you have a willingness to listen to other ideas and opinions, and
consider the possibility that you are wrong – and are willing to change
your perspective. Supervisors want to know that you have a willingness
to learn new things, and to consider alternative approaches to
problem-solving. In an interview, showing you are open-minded instills
confidence in the employer that you are teachable and guidable. Someone
who projects a know-it-all attitude is often a turn off. Also, the
employer wants to know that you have a co-operative attitude, and listen
well to others. Being open-minded typically makes you more adaptable to
your work environment. Your showing acceptance of different cultures,
genders, races and ages makes it easier for the employer to take a
chance on you. An attitude of open-mindedness is also strongly
correlated to workplace flexibility. An employer may see you as more
capable of taking on a job that requires multi-tasking. You may also get
opportunities to participate in a wide array of work projects and tasks
because of your willingness to learn and try new things.
The
human race has a history of close-mindedness. Traditions are just
handed down from generation to generation. We are taught what is ‘right’
or ‘wrong’; we are taught what to think or not think; we are taught
what to do or not do. Anyone straying from the ‘accepted’ views or ways
is considered foolish, and possibly a danger to the group. It starts
from when we are small children; we are led to believe that mama and
papa are always good and right. As we get older, most of us realise
that our parents are not perfect. A majority of what we think and
believe about the things around us, as adults, is determined in our
childhood; such beliefs are emotionally, not rationally, formed. For
many, close-mindedness is simply a matter of faith. They know what they
know, believe what they believe, and wish to devote little or no time
for review. For such people, life means living on some given beliefs. To
them these ideas and beliefs are articles of faith –unquestionable and absolute.
Being
open-minded can be really tough sometimes. Most of us are brought up
with a set of beliefs and values, and we tend to surround ourselves with
people who share similar values and beliefs. However, there is much to
be gained from opening the door to your mind. It can be very liberating
to look at the world through an open mind. It allows you the opportunity
to change your view of the world. When you live with an open mind, you
have a strong sense of self. You are not confined by your own beliefs,
nor the beliefs of others.
Getting
attached to opinions is another way of getting caught by the ego wind.
It inevitably gets in the way of clear perception. We all know how
dangerous views and opinions can be – the inflammatory potential of
clashes of opinion. People come to blows over them. The human animal,
while notable for its skill in communication, is also known for its
skill in dispute and hostility. We must learn tolerance. Wisdom should
be set within empathy. Open-mindedness teaches us to avoid relativism, at one extreme, and dogmatism at the other.
Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with
autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities
for more than 20 years.
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