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Health Support Center Student Counseling Room ClMember of the Psychological Specialist Counseling Committee, Shirouzu

"Open-mindedness" is a term we hear in many situations these days. On websites, it is explained as "a mindset of being open to yourself and listening to what others have to say," and it's a term that seems somehow understandable, but also a little confusing. So this time, we'll analyze the term "open-mindedness" and consider its effects.

What is open-mindedness?

Following the structure of words
① Who?
②For what?
③What kind of mindset?
④ Should it be made public?
Let's organize it.

The commonly used term "open-minded" can be summarized as follows:
① I
② To the opinions of others (even if those opinions or actions differ from your own thoughts and feelings)
③Be open-minded and free from prejudice
4. Listen without closing your heart

Now let's look at the question about "expressing all your opinions" in the same way.
① I
② Express your opinion
③Be honest
④ Tell others

In other words, "I disclose my thoughts to others," which may be closer to the nuance of self-disclosure.

However, in books, the latter meaning is often included in the explanation. It may be said that the definition of "open-mindedness" includes both attentive listening and self-disclosure.

The Importance of an Open Mind

Imagine a situation where you want to express your opinions or thoughts to others. You might be a little nervous or hesitant, worrying that you might be rejected or thought strange. If you are going to reveal yourself, it can be frightening unless you feel extremely safe.

In such a case, if the other person is "someone who listens carefully," you should be able to express what you really want to say without fear. The same goes for others; if they understand that you are "someone who listens to the opinions of others," they will be more likely to talk a little deeper. In other words, self-disclosure is proof of trust in the other person. In other words, if you "open your heart through the other person's words" and "show your trust in the other person," the other person will be able to trust you and open up to you.

By interacting with each other with an "open mind," we can reduce unnecessary tension, increase trust, and create a virtuous cycle that leads to more substantive dialogue. Don't you think this is a pretty good communication style?