Keep An Open Mind – Everything Is Not As You Think

You have to have an open mind because things are not always what they seem. People, situations and certain events often end up being very different from the way you perceive them. It shows you that your assessments are not always correct or that your assumptions are well adjusted. However, the mind has a habit of being in a hurry.

We assume that these “perceptual miscalculations” are an act of responsibility. Be aware, however, that not all responsibility is yours; at least not consciously. This is because the brain is really to blame for these misinterpretations. It is the one who makes decisions on autopilot and who chooses to be led away by prejudice rather than by careful reflection.

Have an open mind, because things are not always what they look like

One thing that people who dedicate their lives to mental health know very well is that it is important to know how to turn off the switch to the trap of prejudice. If you want to be a change agent for others and help them grow and heal, it is important to avoid stamping something hasty. To turn on the light when it comes to having understanding.

Only the open-minded are able to be authentic and empathetic. Everything to be able to accompany and facilitate the progress that a given person may need. This is because the experience eventually ends up showing that not everything is as it often seems. At least not right away. Do not believe everything you hear or think.

This undoubtedly throws you into a state of continuous uncertainty where you are left with only one alternative: to let go and allow yourself to discover each other. That’s actually the secret of life. It’s about daring and having an open mind and going in doors to find out what’s behind them . Assuming that there are many different realities and perspectives.

Keep an open mind

There are times when what one perceives has nothing to do with true reality. How can that be? Do your senses fool you? Not at all. What happens is that everything you perceive and everything that is outside your mind goes through the filter to your brain. This body interprets everything you see and experience. It channels every event, person and circumstance through the veil of experiences, personality and unique nuances.

Things are not always what they seem, and it is surprising to find that they are not. It has happened to everyone. For example, when you have to deal with bullying, it is very easy to perceive who the victim is and who the aggressor is. However, perception should go beyond this assumption. This is because the aggressor is sometimes also a victim of the social and familial context, of the micro-world where violence is the only type of language.

What you perceive is actually not always the true reality, but perception is the lens you use to look at the world almost every day. The crystal it is made of is colored by your previous experiences, feelings, prejudices, interests and cognitive distortions.

Things are not always what they seem, because the mind is a factory of assumptions

The human mind contains many assumptions, irrational schemes, preconceived ideas and prejudices that you are not aware of. If you are wondering who placed them there, the answer is very simple: You did.

Daniel Kahneman, the well-known psychologist who received the Swedish Riksbank’s award in economic science in memory of Alfred Nobel in 2002, reminds the world that humans are made of hundreds of cognitive biases through their books and works. In other words, through subjective (and often erroneous) ways of interpreting reality that deviate completely from objective reality.

Sooner or later, you may have to realize that certain things are not what they seem, at least in the first place. And it’s not because you use completely misaligned measurement scales.

A brain that will save time and fill in what it does not understand with prejudice

The brain often works on autopilot while using cognitive blind spots. These are situations where you are far from being empathetic with other people’s perspectives. From limiting yourself to just being there while you watch and listen calmly to the person in front of you, you instead choose to limit yourself by judging too quickly.

You do not give time or space, nor do you give the other something even more precious: Your understanding. Maybe you are left in the cognitive blind spot where you are not aware of the biases, the unfounded ideas and misinterpretations. Sometimes it takes days or weeks for you to realize that certain things are not always what they seem.

Prohibited to predict, allowed to stay open

Every time you talk to someone or encounter a new or difficult situation, you can try to do a simple visualization exercise. One must have two very specific images in mind. In the first, you turn off a switch (prejudices or thoughts that expect meaningless interpretations).

The second picture is simple. Imagine opening a window. The beautiful window is your mind. Bright, large and connected to all the wonders that surround you. That feeling should give you a good dose of curiosity, perspective and a positive spirit.

This way you can be much more receptive to others and understand them with all the nuances they have, stop your tendency to stamp them out and have assumptions. This mental focus requires effort and commitment. It also means freeing yourself from carrying the extra weight of condemnation that does not help you understand others.