How to Develop a Beginner’s Mind

Let Go of Expert Mindset

This is perhaps the most challenging step. You need to consciously put aside your existing knowledge and approach the situation as if you’re seeing it for the first time. It involves unlearning what you think you know and opening yourself up to the possibility of seeing things from a new perspective. It’s about acknowledging that there may be different, or even better ways of doing things that you haven’t considered.

One way that I like to do this is by reading beginner level books or taking classes in subjects I know well. For example, recently I have been doing that for my business. I have been self-employed for 22 years, so getting stuck in my own head can be my biggest challenge. So, to get past this I have recently taken a beginner course and am now reading a beginner book! It has been amazing the insights that I have had when allowing myself to clear my mind and listen!

Embrace Curiosity

As a beginner, everything is new, and every piece of information is a learning opportunity. Strive to regain that sense of curiosity you had when you were new to the field. Be curious about everything. Ask questions, explore, and seek to understand. Don’t take anything at face value and don’t settle for surface-level understanding.

My favorite way to ask questions that really open your mind is to ask Why questions. For example, why would this work? Why am I currently doing it this way? Why would I not try something new?

Why gets you to explore and at the same time challenge the way you are thinking.

Be Open to Making Mistakes

The fear of making mistakes can often hold people back from trying new things. As an experienced individual, you might feel the pressure to always get things right. But as a beginner, you’re bound to make mistakes. Embrace them as opportunities for learning. Each mistake is a chance to improve and grow.

As I tell my son, it’s okay to fail. You just need to remember to learn from it.

Practice Mindfulness

Be present in the moment and focus on what’s happening right now. This can help you to see things from a fresh perspective. It’s about letting go of past experiences and future expectations and just being in the here and now. By focusing on the present, you can more easily adopt a beginner’s mind.

To start practicing being mindful, I recommend starting a meditation practice. Even just five minutes a day will help you be more mindful the rest of the day.

Seek Out New Experiences

Finally, one of the best ways to access a beginner’s mind is to continually seek out new experiences and challenges. These experiences can help you see things in a new light and avoid getting stuck in your ways.

My approach to life has always been “I will try just about anything once, as long as it is legal!” This has allowed me to expand how I see things in countless beneficial ways.

Remember, accessing a beginner’s mind is not about forgetting what you know, but rather about seeing things from a different, more open perspective. It’s about breaking free from habitual patterns and embracing the unknown.

Learn more about the benefits of travel for emotional healing & beginner’s mind.

Journal Prompts For Beginner’s Mind

• If I was starting today would I do what I am currently doing?
• If you were going to teach __________ to someone who had no experience, what small steps would you break it into? What resources would you give to them?  For this, really put yourself in their shoes and think about what someone brand new would need to know.
• What areas of my life have I not learned anything new lately?