3 tips to adopt a beginner's mindset to improve your creativity and innovation.
When was the last time you were at a beginner level of learning a new skill in your life? For some of us, it can take a minute to go back to the first time...
The first time I learned to ride a bike. The excitement of the speed and the possibilities of the newfound freedom to travel and explore.
The first time I learned to use a computer. The power of being able to connect and communicate through digital space. Learning programs that helped me complete my college papers and homework. (Note: I learned to use a computer when there were still floppy discs and LAN line internet connections.😅)
The first time I conducted an employee training as a newly promoted training manager. I was open to the advice and coaching from my mentor. I was eager and excited to share knowledge and skills to build to our new employees. I had so many ideas for creating new training modules and methodologies with my fresh eyes.
As life progresses and our experiences grow, we start to become experts in different areas of our lives. We become comfortable and confident with what we already know.
We develop expectations, preconceived notions and beliefs on what the right solutions should be. We become so confident from our past experiences that we sometimes shut down new ideas before we even hear them out.
When we get so caught up in our "expert" mindset, we believe we know enough and are more skeptical of and resistant to new ideas, opinions, creativity and innovation. It took hard work to develop our knowledge and experience, so we hold on to them.
However, the past is the past and the world continues to move forward and change. We need to continually refresh and relearn with a beginner's mindset so that we can produce future solutions or our skills and knowledge become obsolete.
"If your mind is empty … it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
What Is a Beginner’s Mind?
The beginner's mind philosophy comes from the Zen Buddhism term 'Shoshin' and is one of the 9 attitudes of mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
"Too often we let our thinking and our beliefs about what we “know” prevent us from seeing things as they really are... The mindful attitude of beginner's mind allows us to be receptive to new possibilities. It prevents us from getting stuck in the rut of our own expertise. Which often thinks it knows more than it does. No one moment is the same as any other. Each is unique and contains unique possibilities. The mindfulness attitudes of beginners mind remind us of this simple truth."
- The Mindful Attitude of Beginners Mind by Jon Kabat-Zinn - mbrstrainning.com
The beginner's mind invites us to approach daily activities with fresh eyes and open-mindedness. It's an attitude of being open to each moment and the awareness of our assumptions and preconceptions that affect the way we see the world.
In the book by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, the beginner's mind philosophy suggests that an expert's mind can be limiting because of assumed knowledge and superiority. However, the beginner's mindset encourages a more engaged and enthusiastic approach to growth and learning.
The attitude of a beginner's mind matters because it encourages us to have a healthier worldview with humility, openness and curiosity instead of pretension or apathy.
3 Tips for Adopting a Beginner's Mindset and Improving Creativity and Innovation
Our experiences and what we have learned in the past helped get us to where we are today. To get us to where we want to be tomorrow, we would benefit from adopting a beginner's mindset. Here are a few ways to start.
1. Let Your Ego Go
It's hard to let go of our "expert" mindset. We've worked long and hard to obtain it. But the "expert" in us stops us from asking questions, encourages us to work on autopilot and relies on preconceptions and assumptions. It focuses on being right instead of the right solutions.
Try the following to let go of your ego:
Let go of the self-pressure to control the outcome or the need to be right.
Let go of the need to have all the answers and ask genuine questions to gain understand first.
Don't just rush to get to the answer or what you believe to be the right solution.
Enjoy the opportunity to learn and gain new insight.
Letting go of your ego and adopting a beginner's mindset will build humility and openness to discover more possibilities.
2. Be Curious
When we think we know enough, we stop being curious. We opt for autopilot, habits and routines. How can we be creative or innovative when we stop asking questions and discovering new answers?
If you observe how children approach new activities and learning, you can see their wide-eyed curiosity and openness to trying something new. In their curious state, they are carefree of what should be and open to using their imagination for what could be.
Find your childhood curiosity and apply a fresh perspective to your daily tasks and projects. Lead from a place of inquiry instead of "expert" minded certainty.
Shake up your daily routine and allow curiosity to take you on a different path. You'll be amazed at what new creativity and innovation curiosity can bring.
3. Slow Down
Life is fast-paced and full of things that need to be done. Our expert mind is efficient at categorizing tasks and autogenerating productivity. It's a daily race to get that to-do list completed and start thinking about the next day's list.
When we are in this constant state of business and rushing from task to task, project to project, we miss so many opportunities for new solutions and different outcomes along the way.
The beginner's mind teaches us to slow down and be in the present moment. It teaches us to clear our minds of future worry, judgement and preconceptions so that we can clearly see what needs to be done and how.
You don't need to do a full mindfulness meditation session to slow down and connect with the present moment. Simply taking several deep breaths to give oxygen to your brain will help to slow your heart rate and stimulate your body to relax.
Even more effective is closing your eyes gently as you take several deep breaths. You'll find that once you open your eyes they will be refreshed and you'll feel more at ease to act in the present moment to get the best results.
Staying Young and Relevant With a Beginner's Mind
Over the past year, I have been challenging myself to learn new skills as I develop and teach new workshops on building creativity with mindful art techniques. It's been a test to let go of my "expert" mind and be open to new solutions and possibilities. (As someone who has been in the learning and development industry for over 20-something years.)
Putting on the "student" hat and letting go of years of preconceived expectations and professional habits has rejuvenated the child-like curiosity in me.
Allowing the child-like wonder to think "what if" and being in the moment to trust the process one step at a time as I learn has given me new ways to expand my abilities.
Applying the beginner's mind to my daily habits and projects has helped me to stay relevant in my field and young in heart, mind and spirit. Once I let go of my ego, allowed myself to be curious and slowed down to see the possibilities...
Recommended Additional Reading:
Build Focus, Creativity and Gratitude Through Mindful Art - Online Article - AYCLimitless.com
The Mindful Attitude of Beginners Mind by Jon Kabat-Zinn - Online Article - mbsrtraining.com
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind - Book - Shunryu Suzuki
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