What does it mean to be open-minded? What is considered being open-minded? Well to make it short being open-minded is witnessing or being a part of something that is outside of your comfort zone, it’s basically breaking the boundaries that you've set up yourself. Everyone has their own perspective, what they believe is right and wrong, and how they act upon themselves and others but hardly do they ever question themselves. Question whether they are happy with their life, if they happy with their values and beliefs, and if they are happy with how they view the world. Becoming an open-minded person is a bit more difficult than you think and tough at times because as a toddler we are raised upon beliefs and values of our household and family so we tend to surround ourselves with people who share the same values and beliefs. The challenge of becoming open-minded is the fact that we faced with ideas that differ from our own, and since we have strong views on specific topics it’s hard for someone to stray from those opinions. I strongly agree that believing in your own opinions is a great thing and doesn't mean you have a closed mind but I've noticed that opening the door to your mind and letting new ideas and beliefs in has it benefits. During my seventeen years of living I've noticed seven benefits to becoming open minded which has carved the person that I am today. Number One is letting go of control. By letting go of control of your thoughts you allow yourself to experience ideas, thoughts, art, entertainment, and genres of music. For example, I used to think that hip hop was the greatest genre of music until my friend Peter told me to listen to an indie rock band from Australia called “Last Dinosaurs” and I had doubts and didn't give it much of a chance but I listened to the melody and instruments being played and it completely changed my view on music. Ever since I listened to a track from Last Dinosaurs I've began listening to them daily and I also began to appreciate different genres such as metal, r & b, techno, pop, orchestra, rock, and oldies. It shaped the way I looked at artists and what direction I should go with my own music but I could never forget the liberating feeling of freeing myself from my thoughts. Number Two is experiencing changes such as your view of the world and not necessarily your beliefs but you have the option to when you think and open your mind to new ideas. As an example I used to believe that god was someone who is our savor and the only person we should entrust our life with but as I've been watching a Japanese amine by the name of “Naruto” it’s taught me that we are our own savors and instead of putting faith in someone to change our reality we should put our faith in ourselves to shape the reality we wish to see. Number Three is making yourself vulnerable and it’s one of the scariest and greatest things because you’re admitting that you don’t know everything as well as there are possibilities that you've never considered. Number Four is making mistakes and it doesn't seem like much of a benefit but it truly is. When you allow yourself to see things from another person's perspective, you allow yourself not only to recognize potential mistakes you've made, but also to make new mistakes. In my freshman year I used to doubt myself and I convinced myself I wasn't good enough especially when it came to my music but as I shared what type of music I was doing to my friends they told me they enjoyed it and that I should perform at the talent show at Roosevelt High School and when I did I knew I was ready and I was right because I forgot my lyrics and left the stage. Still I didn't give up, the next time I performed I was a junior and I practiced day and night to make sure I didn't make the same mistake and I didn't. I've made mistakes with not being energetic enough and not speaking loud enough and every performance I found a mistake and i began to never feel satisfied but having the will and the guts to never give up is what keeps me going. Number Five is strengthening yourself by learning and researching new things which you can use to build on old ideas to strengthen who you are and what you believe in. For Example I asked myself what my purpose in life was and I couldn't come up with an answer so I asked my mom and she told me “Whatever it is that you have a passion for, that’s what your purpose in life is.” Number Six is gaining confidence and you gain it when you live with an open mind because you’re not confined or limited by your own beliefs or the beliefs of others. For that reason you are able to have and gain confidence as you learn more and more about the world around you which will help you to learn and grow, strengthening who you are and what you believe. Number Seven is being honest because when you’re honest with someone you accept that you’re not all knowing. Whatever truth you find might always have more to it than you realize and this understanding creates a sense of honesty that fills the character of anyone who lives with an open mind. For some, being open-minded is easy but for people like me it’s more of a challenge because were confined to our own beliefs, still it’s something we work on and make an effort to obtain. Whether or not you consider yourself to be open-minded, you can certainly see from list above that there are great benefits to viewing life with an open mind. Many people struggle with being open-minded but the effort to think openly and embrace new ideas is worth it because it can shape your life in more ways than one.