keeping an open mind

i have an open mind.
   i like the sound of that affirmation ...



i say to myself: i have strong opinions; and i know (somewhere inside) that those opinins might not be true; as i aknowledge this thought (that my thoughts might not be true) i see myself as open-minded;

(as a sidenote: it's the same with responsibility: the best excuse for avoiding it is saying: "i can't do that! i have responsibilities!")




but that's not what being open-minded is actually about; not by a long shot!




wether people agree or not on what keeping an "open mind" actually means, i guess most of us would agree that an open-mind involves flexibility at some (actually most) levels;


and that isn't accepting you might be wrong; that is not enough;



it is accepting that whatever you say (and think and do) has an arbitrary value; and it might not have any value; any at all; it might just be hurtfull, or just naive or plain idiotic (as in instead of some great universal truth).

and that is hard to see;



it is also accepting that by whatever criteria you judge, your judgement is allready bad; that it's wrong and biased, and incomplete and incorrect, and more in touch with your prejudice than reality; and that whatever you see as superior is infact not; especially when the superior one is yourself;


yes i know, whatever we're talking about might also be good (or necessary, or required, or needed, or correct or ... whatever!);

but you already see that as good (or necessary, or required ... yada-yada-yada), otherwise you wouldn't say it; and accepting that what you feel is correct is infact correct does not contribute to an open mind (but to a bigger ego - if it contributes to anything - that is); so that's not my topic for now ...



the difference between an open-mind and a closed-off mind is subtle, very subtle: you are not required to accept that you might be wrong; it's accepting you allready are!.

it's being in a mindset that allows you to change your mind on what matters to you most, on a moment's notice; that will allow you to think again on what you are certain about, right now! or worse, in the middle of a heated argument!



it's like accepting that you're as bad as the worst excuse of a human being you might find! the one that annoys you the most!
that was a bit tough for me since i was convinced i'm not like someone i despise; and i got described the same way i'm usually describing him; ( thanks B, it was getting to my head! :) )


it's accepting that you're as mediocre as anyone else;

or just plain wrong!

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so, do you have an open mind?


or are you the most fun-to-be-with in your group?


or are you right in most of your affirmations?


are you maybe nervous because someone else blamed you?


maybe it's someone else's fault in something you dislike?!




so, in conclusion, i'm not openminded! i wish i was!

and i'm not better at anything (actually, i'm better at being worse than most of my friends know, but how about i shut up about that?! ;) );

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that's what i wanted to write today about;

good day to us all! :)