Although, almost everyone thinks they are “open-minded” and “non-judgemental”, however, actual open-mindedness comes when one becomes a free thinker, and doesn’t take anything personally.
A free thinker is someone who isn’t tied to his/her beliefs, and isn’t afraid of questioning his/her own thinking or beliefs; someone who is open to “listening to others views without judging, mocking, dismissing them, and without taking others views personally, that’s what frees one from the attachments to one’s own beliefs, and gives way to seeing things from new perspectives, and that’s when one could have healthy discussions.
A free thinker/open minded person, may disagree and respond with his/her views, but never dismisses someone for sharing their views, as he/she understands that there could be many interpretations, as life has many layers and not everyone’s psychologically (not to be read intellectually) at the same level, considering everyone’s journey isn’t the same, life experiences aren’t the same and which opens wide range of perspectives.
It’s observed, most of the people are unconsciously repeating information that’s told to them (as they were conditioned to do from childhood times, mostly by parents, teachers, religious teachings); they blindly follow the beliefs offered to them, and keep sharing readymade thoughts without questioning them, whether it holds true for them or not and rebut when others hold different views.
A free thinker is beyond right or wrong, good or bad, because these are subjective (barring universally accepted rules like murder/rape is a crime) and doesn’t accept something on the face value.
A free thinker doesn’t have a check system or a framework of beliefs, and they engage in conscious thoughts of:
- does this make sense to me?
- Is what I am thinking, an absolute truth?
- Can I be sure of its accuracy?
- Could other’s views actually provide a fresh perspective which could be considered?
- Do I get something new to learn from it?
- Can I ask more questions to get more clarity?
- Am I having an emotional response to this that is clouding my ability to understand this clearly?
- is there an underlying belief/ego, triggering my emotional response to others views?
All of this is a practice of self trust + self inquiry which helps evolve a person and makes him/her open-minded.
P.S.
I have started my journey of becoming a “Free-Thinker” and hoping to connect with other “Free-Thinkers” or the ones on their journey of becoming one, making the journey joyful. ☺️
P.P.S. if you like my write ups, please do like and comment and do share it. 🙏❤️
