There are two ways to react when life throws unexpected challenges our way: We can always dig in our heels and refuse to budge, but remaining close-minded and stubborn rarely helps anyone develop into a better version of themselves. On the other hand, striving to stay flexible and open-minded is one of the most appealing qualities a person can have, and a willingness to adapt on the fly will almost certainly help lead us down better and brighter paths.
This doesn’t necessarily mean we should immediately accept all the new ideas presented to us, as it’s good to be discerning and there will still be times when it’s best to stick to our initial plans. But we should always be open to hearing people out and changing our minds if it seems wisest to do so.
This allows us all to see from new perspectives and make informed decisions about the best ways to proceed. If we keep our minds tightly shut to other voices besides our own, ignorance may win out and ultimately hold us back from realizing our full potential.
May these 12 insightful quotes encourage you to remain flexible and open-minded and to welcome new, unfamiliar ideas into your heart going forward.
Flexibility is the key to stability.John Wooden
Be flexible, but stick to your principles.Eleanor Roosevelt
The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.Brian Greene
If you don’t like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less.Eric Shinseki
Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.Bruce Lee
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.Alan Watts
Minds are like parachutes: They only function when open.Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar
It’s very dangerous to have a fixed idea. A person with a fixed idea will always find some way of convincing himself in the end that he is right.Atle Selberg
The hallmark of an open mind is not letting your ideas become your identity. If you define yourself by your opinions, questioning them is a threat to your integrity. If you see yourself as a curious person or a lifelong learner, changing your mind is a moment of growth.Adam Grant
They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.Francis Bacon
Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.Charles Kettering
You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.Naguib Mahfouz
Featured image credit: George Long/ Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
