Almost everyone considers that they are open-minded and receptive to new ideas. As a friend facetiously remarked, “I know I’m open-minded and nobody will convince me otherwise.” In reality it is very easy to fall into a rut where we cling to our own entrenched concepts of the world and subconsciously reject notions which might disturb our views. Try this quick quiz to see how you rate as regards being open minded. There are just ten questions to which you have to give yes or no answers.
- In the last 12 months have you changed your mind on any significant topic? Minor decisions on where to go or what to eat do not count. Have you changed your position on any big political, moral or societal issue?
- Do you have one or more close friends of a different ethnicity from you?
- Can you take on board criticism and change (yes) or do you push back?
- Have you watched any foreigh language films in the last year?
- Have you made any new good friends in the last 12 months?
- Do try out a variety of newspapers and magazines (yes) or stick to same two or three (no)? If you do not read newspapers that counts as a no.
- In conversations do you generally prefer to listen (yes) or talk (no)?
- Do you try new places each year on holiday (yes) or typically go to the same places as before (no)?
- When it comes to decisions do you ponder and have doubts (yes) or are you decisive and certain of your choices (no)?
- Do you try many different websites for news and information (yes) or visit the same short list of social media and news websites (no)?
Give yourself one point for every yes answer. Then calculate your score. The higher the score the better.
0 to 3 – Stuck in a rut – fresh thinking needed!
4 to 6 – Somewhat and sometimes open minded.
7 to 10 – You are receptive to new thinking.
Please try my Tedx talk – Are You Open-Minded?
“Soy Escéptica pero se escuchar”