Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Try new things
• Method 2 of 3: Dealing with new people
• Method 3 of 3: Challenge your beliefs
• Tips

If you want to be open to other ideas, beliefs and backgrounds, you can count yourself lucky! There are many fun and easy ways to train an open mind. Try new things and meet new people as soon as you have the opportunity and try to listen rather than talk. Everyone has prejudices, so challenge your beliefs and try to notice when you have assumptions that are not necessarily correct. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to feel connected to all types of people.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Try new things

1. Listen to new music. Try to listen to a new genre or music every week. Search the streaming service, online or ask friends what music they recommend.
   • Listen to music from different genres, from different parts of the world and from different eras. This way your brain becomes more receptive to new experiences. New music can help you become emotionally connected to new people, places and things.
2. Read more stories and short stories. A good story puts you in the shoes of someone from a different place and era. Go to the local library, peruse the collection, and look for books with unusual stories, locations and characters.
   • For example, you can read books written by authors from other countries or you can read about identity issues (such as gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation) that are not related to yours.
3. Learn a new language. A new language can allow you to communicate with new people and appreciate new cultures. Look for a local education or use an app to learn the new language.
   • Learning a new language helps to understand each other across cultural boundaries. The way a culture expresses its thoughts in words provides insight into its values ​​and traditions.
4. Attend a service at a place of worship other than yours. Try to gain a better understanding or understand other religious traditions. You can ask friends who are of a different religion if you can attend a service with them. You can also go alone to another church, mosque, synagogue, temple or place of worship in the area where you live.
   • It is best to ask the prayer house in advance if you can come by. You should avoid showing up to wedding services or holy holidays without an invitation.
   • Attend these services with an open mind. Don't expect to have to explain your own beliefs or try to show that their views are wrong. Listen, observe, and try to be grateful to this new group for sharing their time and values ​​with you.
5. Follow a practical training. Learning a new skill is a great way to open up to new experiences. You can follow a course in something you were already interested in or start a new hobby, such as gardening, cooking, yoga or Eastern martial art.
   • Community centers, recreation centers, night schools and adult programs at the university often offer these types of training for free or for a low price.
   • Stimulating your creativity can be particularly beneficial, so take dance, painting, drawing, acting, or other art-related classes.
   • Group training is also a fun way to meet other people.

Method 2 of 3: Dealing with new people

1. Try to listen more than you talk. You can meet people from all over the world, but you will never learn anything if you talk all the time. Try to ask more questions and actively listen to what they are saying instead of thinking about the next thing to say.
   • To actively listen, you give someone your full attention. Don't play with your phone and keep your mind on the conversation. Make eye contact and nod occasionally to show that you are listening. Try to imagine the events, objects, people they describe.
2. Talk to people you don't know as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Different points of view can make you see things from a different perspective and make you grow. Do your best to talk to people of different backgrounds or beliefs on a daily basis.
   • For example, during your lunch break at work or at school, you can sit with someone you don't normally talk to.
   • Let your conversation evolve naturally instead of immediately asking about their religious or political beliefs. Get to know them by asking, "Where are you from?" Or "What do you like to do in your spare time?"
   • Some universities or community organizations organize events to bring together people of different backgrounds and beliefs. Such events help you connect with a wide variety of people.
3. Take the opportunity to visit new places. You don't have to go far to feel the benefits of traveling. Just find a place where the way of life is different from yours. Immersing yourself in a new place is the best way to see the world from a different point of view.
   • International travel is a great way to get to know other beliefs. Organize a trip to a place where you don't speak the language and don't have many leads. Learning to plan in a new part of the world without the help you usually have on hand will help broaden your perspective.
   • If you can't go abroad, find something nearby that can challenge you. If you live in a city, you can go camping in a forest for a few days. Do you live in Rotterdam? Then organize a trip to Fransum to meet new people, eat local dishes and discover other customs.
4. Volunteer in a local NGO. Make time to volunteer with an organization that connects you with different types of people, such as a food bank, a homeless shelter, or a youth center. By helping others, especially people who are different from you, you can realize how needs, wishes and dreams cross borders.
   • For a truly unique experience you can think about combining volunteer work with traveling. Joining a volunteer trip or even volunteering for one day when you are in a new place helps you to be open to other people and perspectives.

Method 3 of 3: Challenge your beliefs

1. Consider how a belief came about. Think about the beliefs you have and ask yourself, "How did they come about?" Think about what a learned belief is and how your life experiences have strengthened your belief in it.
   • For example, if you grew up thinking that work is the key to success, ask yourself, "Are there people who work hard but still struggle? In addition to your work ethic, are there other factors that can influence your success? "
2. Try to realize for yourself when you make an assumption. Assumptions are a natural part of the thinking process, but if left unchecked, they can lead to shortsightedness. When you meet new people or put yourself in new situations, pay extra attention to your expectations. Consider whether your expectations determine how you behave.
   • Suppose you have never eaten pasta with pesto sauce and you assume that you will not like to eat it. Then ask yourself why you think you wouldn't like to eat it. Because the sauce is green? Because you don't like the smell? Maybe you don't have a good reason to make this assumption and you should give pesto a try!
3. Search online for information on new topics and viewpoints. Make the most of your free time by looking up new information. Search online for articles, videos and podcasts on academic topics, current events, religions and international cultures.
   • Read a new article if you need to sit down on the couch or listen to a podcast while commuting to work by public transport.
   • Make sure to use reliable sources. There is a lot of false or one-sided information online. Look for academic articles, reports produced by independent third-party organizations, and information on reputable websites such as government, university, and recognized news websites.
4. Think about what could be the reason someone thinks the opposite of you. Find a polarizing topic and read some news articles about it or listen to some podcasts. Look for sources with views that differ from yours. Try to think about the subject as the other person does.
   • Suppose you are in favor of a higher minimum wage. If you research this topic, you can read about small business owners who fear that higher wages could lead to their business closing. Although you still hold to your beliefs, you can realize that an opposite opinion can also be valid.

Tips

• Challenging your own beliefs doesn't mean you have to change them. Try to look at things from a different perspective and understand that a contrary opinion can also be justified.
• Facing your fear can also help you gain a broader outlook on life. If you're scared of heights, try hiking in the mountains on a beginner's trail. Once at the top, realize you are safe and focus on the beautiful view.