We need fresh beginnings. A beginner’s mind will open us to new possibilities.
Maybe it’s an area of wellness. Physical well-being for example. We desire to expand our cardio-vascular capacity, increasing our energy level by increasing the flow of oxygen throughout our brain and body.
We’ll have to be open to new ideas about lifestyle and exercise – we’ll want to cultivate a beginner’s mind.
What about marriage (or other relationships)? Fresh, new perspective in our present relationships will breathe life into everything in our personal world.
Our thinking. Relationships. Finances. Career and entrepreneurship. It may be time to ask for a new beginning moving forward.
A Beginner’s Mind Is an Open Mind
Our mind easily becomes closed and limiting. We may feel secure and proud in our dogmatism. But it stifles life-force.
We become dogmatic in our personal worldview. In our family systems. In our current relational network. In our geography.
A beginner’s mind is a beautiful mind. It’s the mind of a child – questing, questioning, welcoming, learning. It is supple and receptive.
The phrase beginner’s mind is a concept that comes from Zen Buddhism. I’m not a Buddhist, but this concept really resonates.
Beginner’s mind is an approach to life that is open, boundless, limitlessness and infinitely wealthy.
Even when we’re learning and growing at an advanced level, we lay down our preconceptions and prejudice. As we open up, we can receive what we do not know.
A 2nd Childhood
The key is becoming a child again.
Not childish. But embracing fresh beginnings as a child.
Much possibilities overflow in a child’s mind. The mind of a child innovates. A child will figure it out and find a way. The belief level soars, not yet jaded by the world of big-adult “expert” ideas.
Jesus spoke of this: “You must become like a child to enter my world, a higher dimension of living with new possibilities.”
Jesus also taught us that we must be like a new wineskin, able to hold fresh, expanding wine. The old wineskin cracks and the fresh wine leaks out.
A Few Seedthoughts
Here’s a few ideas to stimulate our beginner’s mind:
- Start doing new things again. Anything. Take up a new interest where you’re a beginner again and have to learn most everything about what you’re pursuing. Stretch. You’ll start conditioning your beginner’s mind.
- Keep learning at all times. Life is an unending series of commencements. It never stops. And that’s a good thing. Embrace “graduations” and new beginnings. Design them into your life.
- Take a small kid (any kid) into a setting that is completely new and exciting for them. Observe them carefully. What are 2 or 3 takeaways that really speak to you?
- Say “I don’t know.“ Just say it. To yourself and to others. We can release the everlasting compulsion to feel that we always know everything about everything!
- Cultivate a questioning approach to life. I’m not talking about rebellion. It’s a mindset that is questing for the best. What if Da Vinci or Edison thought they knew everything?
So whatever the opportunity or challenge may be (the many facets of relationships, finance, wellness, causes and mission, entrepreneurial ventures, and so on), the beauty of a beginner’s mind will welcome new days of possibility.
Q4U: So what about it? What areas of lifestyle and work are asking (demanding) a beginner’s mind from you? Do you have additional ideas to stimulate your beginner’s mind?
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I like the idea of a beginner’s mind. I can only speak for myself – I know I could greatly benefit from allowing myself to look at things – my business, my work, my family – from child-like eyes. I agree – Jesus told us we must come to Him as little children. He wasn’t condoning childishness – but childlikeness – innocence, curiosity and excitement.
Thanks for stopping by, Ann. I’m with you – everything could benefit by looking at things with childlike vision and beginners mind. I think we can really add and multiply value by doing so!