Openness and Learning Mindset

One skill that stuck out to me the most during this Inner Development Goals Course was “Openness and Learning Mindset”. Openness is the willingness to experience new emotions, experiences, and changes to the self. And a learning mindset is the practice of always trying to improve yourself.

When I was younger, I was closed off to anything new. I couldn’t eat if there wasn’t a “comfort food” for me to eat. I sat in amusement parks all alone because I was so scared of roller coasters, even though I had never been on one. But, as the years passed by, I realized I wasn’t living. So, I tried something new for the first time, an Ethiopian dish. And guess what? I loved it! I begged my parents to go back to that restaurant again and again. But, more than that, I tried more foods I wasn’t comfortable with. Some foods I found absolutely disgusting, but that didn’t keep me from trying new stuff.

I think I subconsciously applied my newfound openness to food to everything else in my life. I didn’t have to have everything go my way. I felt proud of myself. I didn’t feel guilty for not eating at a restaurant, or eating before an outing.

In conclusion, my openness to try new foods led me to feel better about myself, thus practicing a learning mindset. And, it encouraged me to be more open and improve myself more.

What have you tried this week? Was it good or bad? How did it affect you?