I find it’s always important to reach out to a broad set of outside influences to keep your mind fresh, alert and nimble. Really your mind is like any other part of your body. You have to give it regular workouts so it gets strong and fast with plenty of endurance. You also have to avoid the aches and sprains that mark bad habits, negative thoughts and general circular ruts.
A good exercise is to listen to quiet thoughts. I was listening to Apple’s head of product design give a talk at Castilleja the other day, and he stressed how fragile new thoughts are. We’re so quick to shout ideas down, we have be very mindful and gentle with new thoughts, especially when they emerge in quiet spots, and let them grow enough that one can safely assess them. To be truly open-minded requires noticing even subtlest ways we sabotage new thoughts. Practicing careful listening is a way of practicing imagination and creativity, and one aspect of overall mental strength.
