For All I Know...

PRINCIPLE#11:

HAVE A BEGINNER'S MIND

“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.” – Shunryi Suzuki

Beginner’s mind is a concept in Zen Buddhism, known as Shoshin and is defined as “having openness, eagerness and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject or experience.“ Absolute knowing is a handicap to living the most fulfilling life. Human nature desires safety and security and therefore loves to know, but in the knowing and assuming, understanding yourself, your relationships and your world in new, potentiating ways is thwarted. This principle has the power keep you firmly grounded in the present and to open the door to new possibilities and options. Begin to observe experiences and information without attempting to measure them against stored beliefs and opinions. Beginner’s mind is the mind of possibility, not the mind of proving. Possibility provides new direction, new options and clarity, proving provides repetition. Most people love and cherish their opinions and beliefs and identify with each as if they are absolutely true. Temporarily suspending past interpretation will allow for new dimensions of awareness, a better comprehension of yourself and others, less judgment and a greater ability to create change.

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” - Socrates

FROM PROVING TO POSSIBILITY

As human beings we are extremely uncomfortable with not knowing something and so we are in a hurry to search and solve. Problem is once we have got it, we lock it in and reference all new experiences against this older, right discovery. Well, what if this discovery, belief or opinion is outdated? How many times have you just “known” something as absolutely true only to discover years later that your perception had holes, flaws or was completely inaccurate? Think of times in history when people clung to their opinions, often to the detriment of others: the world is flat; draining the blood rids you of disease, drilling a hole in the skull cures migraines and mercury can fix everything! Extreme examples, however if you continue to approach new situations, subjects and people with the same attitude and opinions as you always have, it can be just as detrimental to your ability to live your best life. What we know changes all the time – knowledge of our world, bodies, health, religion and relationships are constantly shifting. Clinging to the premise that, now we know, there never would have been any further advancements in health care, technology, education and so on; the same is true for your life. If you are unwilling to approach your life with a curiosity and wonder and with the absolute knowing that you do not know, then it is very difficult to learn anything, to explore and to modify areas in your life for the better. It can be an enormous disadvantage to always know or to always think you know. What you know are the past assumptions transplanted onto the circumstance that is occurring now; the elucidation of the previous. Beginner’s mind will permit you to apply your experience with an open mind, free from the judgments of the past. Ideally you shift to a place where you stay in the moment, respond to your direct experience and avoid assumptions. The power of employing beginner’s minds lies in the application of experience in an open, self-reflective way. A beginner’s mind is simply adapting the premise that maybe you do not know and then staying open to the information as it appears; approaching the subject as a blank slate, willing to temporarily suspend judgments and opinions and beliefs in order to receive the intuition, insight and possibility in each opportunity.

TWELVE TIPS FOR APPLYING THIS PRINCIPLE

1. Admit that you do not know.

2. Knowing it all creates barrier to further development and growth.

3. Understand that your beliefs are just repetitive thoughts that may or may not be helping you.

4. You are not your thoughts, beliefs or opinions; you are that which is observing them.

5. Knowing often means you feel right, therefore he/she who does not agree with your knowing is wrong.

6. If you are your thoughts and opinions, when others disagree with them, they disagree with you. This is the beginning of a power struggle and taking things personally.

7. This is a temporary suspension of preconceptions – you can have your entire belief system and opinions back if you so choose.

8. It is simply a state of openness that creates possibility.

9. I do not know allows for intuition.

10. There is a difference between understanding based on information at the time and knowing it as absolute.

11. Surround yourself with people, books and movies that challenge your opinions and beliefs. Practice non-judgement.

12. Beginner's mind is curiosity – what can I learn, what is here that I have never noticed before?

This is the essence of the coaching relationship; encouraging and supporting clients as they try on new ideas and thoughts in order to shift their current and future experiences. If you would like to experiment with a beginner's mind, please contact me at, onpurposelifecoaching@hotmail.com