A beginner’s mind? I hear you ask. Indeed, this is a concept that I only stumbled upon yesterday but have been hooked on the idea ever since.
Think back to when you were a child. Everything was new, everything was exciting, and no matter what you did or what activities you engaged in, there was always an enjoyment to be had. What changed when we became adults?
Why does the world around us seem so dark, dull and unengaging? Well, it’s because we have lost our beginner’s mind.
What is Beginner’s Mind?
This is the mindset the human mind approaches any new task, activity or event with. The feeling of excitement rushes through you, and you can’t wait to see what happens next. The same applies when you’re learning something new, especially from a young age when your mind craves knowledge.
As modern-day humans, we spent our entire lives trying to be the best, trying to be knowledgeable about a certain subject, or anything, which is what causes us to lose our beginner’s mind.
For example, let’s say you learn ‘everything’ there is to know about carpentry. If some stranger attempts to show you how to create a certain joint, you may think ‘no, I already know how to do this’ or think you know a better method. This ensures that the teachings you’re being taught do not affect your current mindset.
This means that your mind is closed to new experiences. It means you’re unable to obtain or absorb the knowledge that is being presented to you. This ‘closed-off’ mind is restricting you from experiences new and exciting things.
It’s Everywhere
When you visit a new country, you’ll also think how beautiful and amazing it is. However, why do we not think this when in our own town or city? It’s simply because we’ve got used to it, and we think we know everything there is to know about our home location.
This is the same concept as before. Because you unconsciously believe that you know everything, you immediately and instinctively shut off from learning anything new.
This deprives us, as humans from experiencing new things that can stimulate our minds and encourage feelings of enjoyment.
Breaking the Habit
To rid ourselves of this repressive mindset, we must meditate. We must listen to our minds and our bodies with the ambition of tuning into ourselves and our minds in a deep and meaningful way. At its core, our minds are always eager to learn new things and to experience new experiences, so it’s vital that we allow it.
Otherwise, we will spend our entire lives repressed and stuck in a never-ending day by day cycle. Use daily meditation to unlock your mind once again, giving you a mindset where you can experience life to its full potential.
