Shoshin: Nurturing a Beginner’s Mind for Personal Growth
As the start of the new year approaches, many books, articles and podcasts I have read and listened to mention shoshin, or beginner’s mind. As I prepare for 2024, the universe has reminded me how important it is to cultivate my beginner’s mind!
In business, a beginner’s mind can seem counterintuitive. As a consultant, you are looked to for expertise, as a business executive, you are hired as an expert. Beginner’s mind works as a counterbalance to the closed-mindedness that can come with being an expert. The magic happens when you are able to suspend all your expertise, and approach each moment with a sense of curiosity, much like a novice rather than an expert. You become more willing to experiment and more open to change.
Approaching relationships with a beginner’s mind, allows us to eliminate judgment, preconceptions and biases about ourselves and our colleagues, partners, friends allowing us to see possibility and create deeper connections. With a beginner’s mind, we are able to foster understanding, develop adaptability and nurture an environment where communication flourishes.
Research on neuroplasticity, the ability of the neural networks of the brain to change through growth and reorganization, reinforces that approaching life with a beginner’s mind allows us to continuously learn and adapt. The pursuit of a beginner’s mind is where innovation flourishes and personal growth thrives.
Ways to Create a Beginner’s mind.
Everyday Tasks: practice beginner’s mind with everyday tasks. When folding the laundry, doing the dishes, taking a shower, brushing your teeth. Use your senses to get deeper into the experiences.
Meditation allows you to let go of judgements, creating mental space for fresh perspectives.
Listen more than you talk. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth. Ask questions and actively listen to the answer vs. thinking about what you are going to say next.
Watch children at play, how they approach new activities, how they interact with people.
Change your perspective - sit on a different side of the table in a meeting or a workout class. Take a different path on your walks.
Listen to people with different views than you. Be curious about your judgements.