Self Awareness - the Conscious Vibe

If you look at a an aerial view of a lake, you won't know the truth of how deep it is. One perspective is not enough to accurately understand the truth in any circumstance. I always think about the old saying that "theres 3 side to every story" 1. Perspective A2. Perspective B3. The truth A lot of people (especially these days) like to say that they're open-minded. But they don't really welcome new perspectives to deepen their understanding for what's true. Unless you take an active approach to seek out new perspectives in order to gain a deeper understanding and evolving your perception then you're probably less open minded than you thought. In this article, we'll explore some tips how you can actively work towards opening your mind, broadening your perspective, and expanding your conscious understanding for reality and what is true. Widen Your Perspective: Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone If you want to widen your perspective, it helps tremendously to step out of your comfort zone. Many of us get comfortable in life. We feel safe in our comfort zone, safe with our beliefs of what's true, and we don't want to leave that safety zone. It could be a job, a house, a relationship, or even a mindset. But sometimes in order to grow we need to change. And to change, we need new ideas, new challenges, new information, and new perspectives to look at things. We find jobs that pay our bills, friends that are always there for us, and schedules that might not be super wild or fun, but that simply work well. There's nothing wrong with carving out a comfortable and cozy lifestyle. But if you don't leave your comfort zone, then you'll struggle to open your mind to new ideas and new perspectives which will eventually hurt your ability to understand the depths of reality and what is true. Widening you perspective is not for everyone. Just for those who want to keep learning, growing, and deepening their understanding for truth. Most times, our comfortable lifestyles are the biggest obstacles standing in the way of our personal growth! That's why it's essential to take steps outside of your comfort zone. Whether that means signing up for yoga classes, traveling and experiencing new cultures, or reading books from authors with worldly experience. It's vital to push yourself towards doing the things that scare you and make you feel uncomfortable. Even if you only learn that you hate doing yoga or that you don't like people, at the very least, you'll be able to say that you tried and that you've learned a thing or two from the experiences. Read More To Widen Your Perspective Right now, I'm reading Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It's not because I find 19th-century Russian culture all that enthralling; it's because I truly believe that reading is one of the best things a person can do to help keep their mind sharp, widen their understanding for reality, and come up with new ideas. No matter what type of literature you're into, whether it's Russian literature, Old Westerns, Harlequins, non-fiction, or science books, reading is like going for a jog with your brain. It allows you to learn new knowledge, understand new ideas, and see things from different perspectives. For the most significant impact on your perspective, try reading books about foreign cultures or about some of the Greatest Minds the world has ever known. Get to know more about people like Buddha, Albert Einstein, Ray Dalio, or even Steve Jobs. They are undoubtedly some of the most influential thinkers of all time. So reading about their lives, thought patterns, and upbringings is a great way to learn new ideas and form deeper understandings for truth and the collective reality that we humans all share. Ask More Questions To Widen Your Perspective The world-famous astrophysicist, Carl Sagan, once said, "If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us." I feel like this is a great quote that helps illustrate the importance of asking questions and learning about the world around us to help broaden our perspectives. But when we ask questions and search for answers by second-guessing authority, we put ourselves in a position where we're more informed, allowing us to think freely for ourselves! That said, even when you don't like another person's opinion or their answers to the questions you ask, it's essential to still listen and think about them from other perspectives. Question people who give opinions and state facts that are not experts themselves. For example, celebrities, politicians, news anchors and You-tubers to name a few. Ask questions, do your own independent research, don't rely on a single source of information, and use multiple perspectives to gain the deepest understanding of truth and reality. Be Even More Being Open-Minded To Widen your Perspective Most people think that they're open minded, in fact up to 95% of people think that they're open minded according to studies at Harvard. When in reality only 10-15% are actually open minded. It's critically important to understand that there are many benefits to having an open-minded perspective. For instance, research suggests that open-minded individuals are less affected by singular events and are more resistant to manipulation from others. If you're closed minded you're easy to manipulate by people who will tell you what you want to hear. Open-minded people are also better at predicting the behaviors of others, making them less prone to projecting themselves onto others. And lastly, open-minded individuals have also been known to score higher on general cognitive tests, such as IQ tests and SATs. Understand All Sides To Disagreements To Widen Your Perspective Whenever we get ourselves into a disagreement, it's easy to see the problem as being two-sided. For instance, we often see it as us versus the problem, man against wife, criminal versus authority, etc. However, a featured article from Ted suggests that there are three sides to every disagreement. The idea is taken from the author's experience living with San Bushmen in South Africa. When a problem occurs in their tribes, rather than allowing two individuals to have it out, the tribe sits down together. Then, they all begin discussing the issue until it is eventually resolved. So even if a disagreement is between you and your wife, for example, never forget that there are many other perspectives you should listen to. Those of your parents, siblings, friends, etc. By leveraging multiple perspectives it can help you come to a resolution and a deeper understanding for truth, then only two perspective could provide by themselves. In other words, it's crucial to understand that most disagreements aren't so cut and dry. Especially in politics. We're often too closed off in our own perspective to see things from the other side. But when we learn to understand problems from different perspectives, we also improve our ability to diffuse high-stress situations and resolve conflicts in a much more friendly way. Travel To A Different Country To Widen Your Perspective (Not on a Cruise) Aside from reading, travel can be one of the best ways to learn about the world and adopt new perspectives about life. We often get stuck in routines and our 'normal way of life' and forget that there's over 7.7 BILLION people on the planet, and everyone does things differently. The way your culture does things may be in the minority or even outdated when it comes to the rest of the world. When we travel, we see different cultures in action, which leads us to question the things we do at home and why our culture and customs are so different. For instance, when I was 27, I booked a flight to Europe and backpacked around the continent for 45 days, without any type of itinerary. In total, I saw about 11 countries, met dozens of strange and lovely people (some of whom I'm still friends with), and learned a whole lot about myself and the world I live in! No matter where you go, travelling is a great way to open your mind. However, I'd recommend avoiding a cruise or a resort. Sure, these types of vacations are a great way to escape, but they're not exactly conducive to learning about other cultures or developing your inner self. Expand Your Perspective (and your consciousness) With Psychedelics Now I'm not saying you should run out and start doing drugs. However, there's a great deal of new science and evidence indicating that psychedelic experiences induced by psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, and DMT can have profound, long-lasting positive impacts on life, human consciousness, and our perspectives. Ingrained habits and outdated ways of thinking, can be rewired overnight. I personally have tested a few of these substances, and found profound new ways of looking at things and deeper understandings of new perspectives. We suggest that you do your research, learn about the benefits and potential dangers of taking psychedelics, and form your own opinions. Remember, as Carl Sagan said, it's important to question authority and form educated opinions for yourself! Conclusion: Open Your Mind And Broaden Your Perspective Don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone, make positive changes, and seek out new experiences. Widening your perspective will give you valuable insight, increase your ability to understand the reality around you, and give you a better understanding for truth. I guarantee that no matter the outcome, you'll be better for it!