As a self-awareness consultant, I often encounter people who have rigid beliefs and are completely stuck in a certain way of thinking about things. They are literally unable (or unwilling) to see things from another point of view or have empathy for someone else’s experience.
Having a rigid beliefs can lead to not enjoying life to its fullest because you limit your options and opportunities. I’ve found that people who value self-awareness tend to be on the opposite side of the spectrum, they like to think freely and expansively and enjoy new experiences. Here are some characteristics of a person with rigid beliefs:
- Inability to consider other points of view.
- Belief in only one way of seeing the world.
- Inflexibility of thought.
- Imposing beliefs on others.
- Inability to change.
- Scared of new ideas and experiences.
- Stuck in a limiting behavior pattern.
- Saying things like, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” “My mind’s made up,” or “I’m happy with how I think.”
- Difficulty dealing with ambiguity.
- Lack of emotional intelligence.
- Intolerance and bigotry.
- Living in fear or anger.
There’s nothing inherently evil about wanting to think and behave the same way over the over, it just tends to lead to getting stuck in a rut and repeating the same mistakes over and over. I enjoy connecting with self-aware, forward-thinking people because they’re open to new experiences and are eager to live courageous, authentic lives.
What will you do to develop self-awareness and avoid having rigid beliefs?
Cheers,
Guy