Open to change

Britt Bowersox, Opinion Assistant Editor

I can’t. It won’t work. This is the way things have always been, so this is the way things will always be. All these phrases are becoming too commonly heard and repeated. We become so comfortable with our own lives and routines, we close ourselves off from the possibility of change and growth. It’s not very hard to do, I mean who wants to hear, “Hey, I think there’s something you could be doing better.” No, you don’t want to know what you could be doing better, because what you’re doing now gets the job done. Is there a possibility that the new idea could be something that changes your life for the better? Yes, but the new idea could also mean a lot of work and a step out of your comfort zone, so you just stay where you are.

I would say a majority of people think of themselves as being open- minded, but how open minded are we really? For example, if someone openly questioned your political beliefs, is it your first instinct to assume they are just wrong or do you try to see the situation from their perspective? Instead of seeing disagreement and constructive criticism as negative things, we should view conflict as an opportunity to gain a different perspective on our own opinions/ideas. Closed-minded people are often frustrated when they cannot get the other person to agree with them, or in other words “win” the argument, instead of being curious as to why the other person disagrees. By choosing to not become angry or upset when processes are questioned, we can either positively change the current system, or we can solidify an already efficient system.

Between all of the conflict in our world today, and the upcoming presidential election, what better time than right now to choose to be open to new ideas, new opinions and changes that will help us all to grow. By focusing on being open-minded, we can not only empower ourselves and improve our own lives but empower each other to become the best we can be.