7/21/07: Imprisoned Minds

You are not open minded until you believe in the possibility of everything, from the seemingly mundane to the seemingly absurd.

Most of us think we are open minded but when put to the test, we find we are not as open as we thought ourselves to be.

To test how open your mind really is, read the next statement as if it were a news headline from a respected publication.

“Reptilian beings from another planet are in control of our world leaders and have infiltrated the earth in human form, posing as humans living among us.”

How did you feel while reading it? Did you scoff at the absurdity of it? Did you pause to ponder whether it could be true? And if so, how long did it take to shake your head, dismiss it and continue reading this? If you are still pondering, are you going to do any research to see if there is any evidence to support the claim?

Until you are open to the mere possibility, not whether it is true, but whether it could be true, you are imprisoned by your mind.

Whether the statement is true or not is of no importance to this test. The importance is whether your mind is open enough to accept the possibility of it being true.

Do not be so quick to dismiss or negate something simply because you do not understand it, because you don't want to accept the possibility of it or because the majority disbelieves it.

Labeling someone or something as “crazy” or “out there” or “ridiculous” is a trick the fearful mind uses to stay closed and safe and small.

Free your mind. Open it to all possibilities. You will be amazed at how absolutely large this world really is outside of the confines of a closed mind.