Published on
updated on
Reading 3 min.
Marie Lanen
Head of parenting sections (baby, pregnancy, family), psychology and beauty
Open-mindedness is a door to a better understanding of oneself and others, promoting a climate of tolerance and inclusion. Here are 5 practical tips for developing it on a daily basis.
Open-mindedness is a valuable quality in our modern world. It allows us to better understand others, to grow as individuals and to adapt to diverse environments. But how to develop it on a daily basis? Here are five practical tips to help you cultivate this quality.
Cultivate curiosity and active listening
Open-mindedness begins with curiosity. It’s about nurturing a sincere interest in what is different from us, whether ideas, cultures or ways of life. This curiosity must be accompanied by active listening, that is, being truly attentive to what others express without preconceived judgments. This allows you to welcome new perspectives with respect and understanding.
Practical tip: Take time to ask others questions about their experiences, opinions and experiences. During a conversation, try to pay attention to the other person rather than mentally preparing your next response.
Develop empathy
Empathy is a key skill for broadening one’s open mind. It involves putting yourself in other people’s shoes, trying to feel what they feel, and understanding the reasons for their actions. Developing empathy helps to overcome stereotypes and appreciate the complexity of the human experience.
Practical tip: The next time you disagree with someone, instead of immediately defending your position, take a moment to try to understand their point of view. Ask yourself: “What could have caused this person to think this way?“.
Read or listen to diverse testimonies
Books, articles, podcasts and videos are doors to the world and the stories of others. Consulting testimonies from people from different cultures, backgrounds and situations allows us to broaden our vision of the world. It also helps us recognize the diversity of human experiences and revise our prejudices.
Practical advice: Make room in your reading or listening for stories from other horizons. Read testimonials from people living realities very different from yours, whether in terms of social class, culture or geography.
Use social networks wisely
Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with others and discovering new ideas, but it also carries risks: the “bubble” or “echo chamber” effect can lock us into a universe of opinions similar to ours , and encourage the polarization of debates. To develop an open mind, it is important to ensure that social networks remain a place of enrichment, and not a space for confirming our biases.
Practical tip: Follow people and accounts who offer different perspectives than yours. Also take care to verify the authenticity of information before relaying it, and stay aware of your emotions when interacting online. It is also useful to take a step back from overly emotional content.
Good in his body, good in his head!
Choose and diversify your sources of information wisely
Access to a variety of information sources is essential to having a nuanced view of the world. Relying on a single source or media can limit understanding of the issues. It is crucial to diversify your sources, expose yourself to different points of view and use discernment to avoid bias and misinformation.
Practical advice: Make the effort to consult a variety of media: traditional press, independents, blogs, podcasts, etc. Also take the time to check the credibility of sources by paying attention to how they produce and verify their information. When in doubt, cross-reference information to distinguish facts from opinions.