With 2024 nearing its end, trying to keep an open mind can seem daunting. The obligations that come with the holiday season coupled with the backdrop of an election year put strain on our minds. Without proper self-care, things can feel like running a gauntlet as a result. It has felt like that for me this week alone, and I can admit that it’s been tough being open-minded to anything. Yet, I realize too that now more than ever is the time to keep things open.
That said, a well mind helps maintain open-mindedness. It’s not the first time I’ve gone through something like this. This feeling came about in the 2020 election cycle, which was overwhelming with the pandemic happening simultaneously. Despite that, I’ve learned since then some habits that help me keep my mind open. It may not be perfect, and it may look different from what may work for you. However, it helps me balance my mental health and open-mindedness no matter what time of year it may be.
Listening First
Listening can be the hardest thing to do when keeping an open mind. For one, indulging in views not aligned with your own can be very uncomfortable. Additionally, depending on the subject matter, the material surrounding a topic can be both polarizing and deafening. These hurdles are just a few of the obstacles that stand in the way of an open mind. It’s a natural reaction to want to curl up and tune out everything, but that may not always be the best option. It can be difficult to gauge, but can go a long way when done right.
Take for example this recent election cycle. If you’re like me, this election could not have been over soon enough. All the political ads and rhetoric being put out was overwhelming, even though I recognized that some paramount topics were up to vote. Nevertheless, I’ve found that to truly cut through the noise and hone in on those key issues, you need to know when and where to listen. This includes comprehending what’s being put out, rather than putting your reactions and thoughts out there. I’ve found it best to not react right away until at least both sides–or all sides–are researched and understood.
This practice I find doesn’t just apply to politics. In general, I find this valuable in staying open to new experiences as well. Recently for Halloween weekend I went to a small anime convention. I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about this convention’s past years, with some of my friends having some lackluster experiences and others raving about how fun it is. Nevertheless, I decided after careful consideration that I’d give the event a try.
Based on my experience, I had a great time at the event. Initially I was apprehensive with some of the mixed reviews I heard, but in the end I was glad I went through with it. This is the essence of open-mindedness. The ability to consider sides that are both your own and opposing are the very foundation of this virtue. While the latter example may be more low-brow, this practice can easily get lost in the chaos of arguments and opinion regardless of context.
Build On Credibility
As alluded to earlier, to be open-minded you need to know not only how to listen, but also when and where to listen. Listening is half the battle, as there is so much to listen to out there. If you try to listen to absolutely everything, you’ll become overwhelmed with information. Once that happens, there won’t be any room for new ideas or perspectives. That’s why it is important to avoid information overload by narrowing down where you listen.
To use the election context again, credibility plays a crucial role in the information we consume. Without it, how could we hold views or be open to new views? We have to make sure the information surrounding these views are reliable. It’s not always easy to tell, as bias can skew how a story is portrayed. Hence, it’s good to approach with a level of skepticism, no matter how believable something might seem. Fact-checking across multiple sources aids in painting a more trustworthy picture.
As was the case with listening, making sure you’re building on credible information serves a purpose beyond the political realm. Think of a time you and a group wanted to try a new restaurant. What sort of sources are you more likely to turn to? Places like Yelp? A friend or relative? Whatever source you may turn to, critically analyzing what information they may put out will help keep an open mind with confidence.
Tapering Expectations
Another habit I’ve found useful is setting aside expectations. While certain baseline boundaries may be good to have, setting high expectations past that can be risky. The more you’re invested into these expectations, the more risky it is. Anticipating a specific desired result or experience opens yourself not only to disappointment, but to also close your mind to other possibilities.
No matter what side you fall on, election cycles like this are a nail-biter of a toss-up. Heading into it, both candidates were projected to be neck-and-neck. In some ways, I got caught up in anticipating the results. But as the final votes were cast, I had to come to terms that no matter what the result was I couldn’t expect anything more. I did my part and voted, it’s out of my control now. All others and I can control now is what we’ll do in response, which is a prospect I feel gets lost in the aftermath of an election.
Personally for me, I find it hard to taper expectations in a few other areas. I’m a big hockey and Knights fan, so understandably I get invested in their games. I want the Knights to do well, and to win as much as possible. But I also realize that they can’t always win. No matter what I may think or do to try supporting them, how they play is ultimately out of my control. I came to terms with that and focused on what I can control, such as how or when I can support them.
That kind of thinking is what I mean in tapering expectations. It’s normal to anticipate or want something to go a certain way. Expectations can further enable that desire for an outcome or experience. But it’s important to note that there are some things that are out of your control. It doesn’t make you powerless, but keeping that in mind can help you keep an open mind even if things don’t go as expected.
Knowing Your Limit
This leads me to perhaps the most important habit: knowing your limit. We all have limits, and it’s crucial to recognize them. As I said before, a well mind helps maintain open-mindedness. It’s taxing to be heavily invested or consume loads of information. While to some degree both are needed in an open mind, it’s equally needed to do so in a healthy manner.
With the amount of information and reaction to this election year, I find myself feeling burnt out. This feeling is further compounded by me scrolling through social media even when I’ve reached that limit. However, I have worked to cut back on scrolling and give myself a break. Since election day, I’ve turned off notifications and refrained from using my phone as much as possible. I’ve turned the focus on taking care of my mental health, and occupying the remaining free time with work.
Taking care of your mental health is another key part of this habit. Knowing when to stop is half the work, but you still need to recharge. Personally for me, I do this by either gaming, spending time with loved ones or even taking a nap. It may be different between you and I, but giving yourself that time to do what you want will help you in the long run.
In Closing
Whether being practiced during an election year or on any other day in the year, open-mindedness can be a challenging virtue to practice. A lot goes into building up to it as well as maintaining it. However, finding your way of cultivation will help achieve open-mindedness. I find it best cultivated through listening to credible sources, tapering any expectations, and knowing my limit. How do you find it best cultivated?
About the Author
Brendan is a senior at UNLV, and is currently majoring in Journalism. He is set to graduate in Fall 2024. With his concentration in digital/social media, he hopes to become a social media manager and content creator one day. He also hopes to grow not only personally, but also grow LYF's message this semester! Some of his passions include cosplay, video games, anime, and writing.
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