Watching my grandson pick up a stick and imagine it as a vacuum—complete with vein-popping suction sounds—is so inspiring. In fact, he can turn anything into something else with his imagination.
He’s not a special 2-year-old. What he is, is a typical kid with a curious imagination. And his way of thinking opens him up to a world in which new ideas, change and solutions are infinite.
But how do we, as adults, tap into our owncuriosity like a two-year-old? How do we open our minds to new possibilities and avoid getting stuck in old patterns of thinking?
Start training yourself to have a Beginner’s Mind. It's a concept from Zen Buddhism, best captured by the quote “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Check out these three valuable lessons we can take from this concept—and from a 2-year-old who is an expert only in one thing: being a beginner.
Embrace curiosity over expertise: Approach situations with an open mind, free from the weight of preconceived notions. This is especially important when someone comes to you with a recommendation or a POV. Instead of defaulting to what you think you already know, ask more questions and explore their perspective.
Welcome imperfection. Beginners make many mistakes—that’s how they learn. If we fear not having the perfect idea or solution, we avoid taking risks. Letting go of the need for perfection allows us to experiment, take risks, get to better ideas, and ultimately grow.
Stay humble and open to feedback: A Beginner’sMind is humble, recognizing that there’s always more to learn. It means being receptive to feedback and other people’s insights, rather than relying solely on your own expertise. This approach fosters collaboration and strengthens relationships.
Practice one of these Beginner’s Mind tips today! With your kids, your colleagues, or your direct reports.
Try This Subtraction
Who wants to vacuum and mop floors more? Raise your hand.
Yeah, I didn’t raise my hand either. LOL. So, here’s a tip to do less cleaning and get a cleaner home.
First, you should know that my family and I used to be die-hard Dyson fans. We have them all—several vacuum cleaners, Dyson Airwraps (which I swear by, despite the stupid price), fans…you name it.
Then we discovered Robotrock. After a little research on robot vacuums, we welcomed the arrival of our latest family member—the Roborock Q8 Vacuum and Mop Cleaner. There are higher-end models than ours that others in our family swear by, but seriously, it’s friggin’ brilliant and subtracts most of the regular vacuuming. My only other advice? Wait for it to go on sale. It always does.
Psst: Do This and Pass It On
Recently, someone shared a list of ways to “add value” when you’ve got a breather and find yourself wondering, “What can I do to be productive?” A few things on the list stood out to me as priceless. Here are the ones that really resonated, and I’d love to pass them on:
Show someone some love.
Unplug.
Go meet someone new.
Dream about the future.
I especially love the last one. In a world where there’s so much to worry about, taking a moment to dream about a positive future is a truly beautiful thing.
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Forward this email and add value to a friend or colleague's day! One of these tips just might lighten their load and make them smile. 😊
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