Have you never checked out that new restaurant in town because you don’t know what it’s like there? Now’s the time to check it out. Have you avoided signing up for that English class you’re interested in because you don’t know anything about Romantic poetry? Go for it. Have you avoided the Barre classes at your yoga studio because you’re afraid you won’t know what you’re doing? Take a beginner’s class to dip your feet in.
Try researching a subject to learn more about it. If, for example, you aren’t sure why people are vegans, try searching online or checking out a book about it. If you find that there is absolutely no evidence to prove your case, then you should try that thing yourself before you say anything else.
Try to accept invitations to different types of events. Just saying yes to party invitations may not necessarily broaden your horizons if you say no to everything else. The next time you say no to something, ask yourself what lies behind this impulse: is this fear of the unknown? An unwillingness to step out of your comfort zone? The desire to be hanging out in bed in your pyjamas instead of meeting new people? Face the feeling and find a way to fight it. [5] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
Let’s say you’re a very devout Christian. Can you try reading up on other religions, or understanding the reasons why someone might not believe in God at all? Make a list of these reasons and see if it makes it easier for you to understand your differing perspectives. This doesn’t mean you have to change your mind, but it will help you have a more open-minded outlook.
Let’s say you catch yourself saying, “It’s freezing today. This weather sucks. ” Can you think of anything good about the cold day? Try: “But there’s nothing like drinking a pumpkin spice latte in your favorite café when it’s cold outside. ” Or: “Maybe it’ll snow later. I love snow. ” You can find the good in almost any situation. Maybe you hate your 2-hour commute, but you love the alone time you get to listen to your favorite audiobook.
Routines are a good way to bring order and stability to your life, and there’s nothing wrong with them. But if you want to be more open-minded, mixing it up once in a while will show you that there’s more than one way to live your life. Let’s say you planned to stay in all weekend and watch that ‘’Law & Order’’ marathon you’ve been craving. Your friend invites you to her beach house at the last minute—if you want to start changing your life for the better and to be more open to new experiences, then you might want to say yes.
Start a Goodreads account and try to tackle at least 3 books a month. See what other people are reading and get inspired. Spend hours at a bookshop or the library perusing the shelves until you find a book that speaks out to you. Then, make a goal of finishing it by the weekend. Join a book club by looking for one online or in your area. This will make you even more open to a wide variety of literature and will expose you to a number of new opinions.
If you can’t afford to travel, watch the Travel Network. Though it won’t be as exciting as the real thing, it will give you more perspective into how people live in other countries.
Write down 5 things that make you really uncomfortable. Find a way to do as many as you can. This will take time and courage, but you’ll feel better for it!
The next time you meet a new person, try to really understand where they’re coming from before you form any kind of an opinion. If they talk loudly, maybe they’re used to being ignored or looked over. If they seem standoffish, they might just be anxious or shy. When you’re meeting a friend of a friend, try to see it like this: if your friend likes this person, then there must be something good about them. Try to seek it out.
If you know the person well, ask them about what their childhood was like. You may hear some really interesting details and will learn something new. For example, you might ask, “How are your parents doing?” “How’s the city life treating you?” “What do you do for fun?” “Did you like growing up around here?”
Though you shouldn’t hand pick your friends based on their diversity, try to hang out with people that have a variety of jobs, interests, and backgrounds.
