25 Ways to Expand Your Mind and Unlock Your Full Potential

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Our experts weigh in on the best ways to broaden your perspective
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The verdict is in—an open mind is a happy and healthy mind. While it can be easier to close yourself off and limit your world, all you're really doing is limiting yourself. The good news is it only takes a few minutes a day to start expanding your mind and unlocking your true potential. We talked to life coaches and psychotherapists to find out the best ways to strengthen and stretch your brain.

Best Tips for Expanding Your Mind

  • Be curious about the world. Step outside of your comfort zone and ask questions.
  • Seek out thoughts and opinions that differ from yours.
  • Put yourself in others' shoes to understand why they feel the way they do.
  • Try to learn something new every day, even if it's just a different route to work.
  • Keep a journal and reflect on your thoughts and feelings.
Section 1 of 4:

25 Ways to Expand Your Mind

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  1. 1
    Approach the world with curiosity. For life coach Sandra Possing, "everything starts with awareness and being willing to get super honest and curious. So many of us are confined within these parameters of what we think we should be doing," she explains. "The first step is loosening the reigns a little bit and being aware and being curious and allowing [yourself] to pause and ask questions, and start answering them honestly." [1]
    • For life coach Rachel Clissold, curiosity is essential for leading a meaningful life: "Keep playing, keep curious, keep that investment to life and don't allow the outside world to infiltrate you and your passion and your enthusiasm and your excitement for play." [2]
    • Increase your curiosity by intentionally focusing on specific things in your environment and learning more about them. You'll see that they're probably a lot more interesting than you originally thought. [3]
  2. Once you have that curiosity, Possing recommends "taking some action in kind of an unattached way… without the pressure or expectation." [4] It's not about trying something and thinking it's going to be your new favorite thing, or that you're going to be instantly good at it. It's just about trying something new or doing something in a different way than you're used to doing it.
    • "Just getting into action creates some energy and gives [you] more information" you can use "to take the next step and the next step and the next step." Possing explains. "It just becomes this really active exploration." [5]
    • Marriage and family therapist Moshe Ratson notes that if you "bring joy into your life [and] expand your experiences… that can only enhance your life." [6]
    • "In our comfort zone, which is not necessarily comfortable, but it's familiar, that is where we stay really safe," Possing explains. "It's where we just keep doing what we're doing, so we're comfortable, but we're not growing, we're not learning new things." [7]
    • "We get easily complacent and I think the whole point of life is to grow and expand," Possing emphasizes. "So the best way to do that is just to do things that are different or new." [8]
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  3. 3
    Adopt a growth mindset. Certified life coach Nora Oliver recommends "having a growth mindset" as a way to become a lifelong learner. "It just means that you're open to hearing how certain things can be viewed and be done differently," she explains. [9]
    • "Giving yourself that ability, the option to grow… is so important in feeling happy and staying content in your life overall," Oliver concludes. [10]
    • "There are so many different things we can do to rewire our brains and thanks to neuroplasticity, we really can quite literally rewire our brains through practice," Possing agrees. [11]
    • Key to doing this is reframing failure. "Failure is great because it equals growth," Possing explains. "And so every time you fail, as long as you can choose to see it with a different perspective and you see the failure as growth and learning, then it's positive." [12]
  4. 4
    Try something new every day. "If you don't allow yourself to experience something new, you can't really… know whether or not you like something," Oliver explains. "So I think it's so important to allow yourself to try new things, to feel new things. You may learn that you never felt something in a particular way." [13]
    • It doesn't have to be anything huge. "It could be as simple as taking a 5-minute longer journey to work and going the scenic route or going to a different café, trying a different food, joining the gym, putting yourself outside of your normal confines of your routine into doing something different," Clissold advises. [14]
  5. Possing recommends "traveling to places that are different and going in with an intention and a commitment to learn." When you travel, "stay really curious and… be excited to see new things, learn new things, and have that open [you] up to things that you didn't know were possible," Possing advises. [15]
    • "I'm going to try to remain neutral, instead of judging one way or the other," Possing explains. "I'm just going to make a commitment to stay neutral and then to gather information and just seek to understand… why this culture or this group of people do things this way." [16]
    • "Maybe there's something I can learn that's actually way better than the way I do it," Possing notes.
  6. Possing recommends "seeking out people who are different from you and truly practicing listening." She notes that "most of us are pretty terrible listeners because we're not really taught how to do that." [17]
    • "When we can actually learn to just be quiet and listen and hear what the other person is saying and listen with curiosity and a desire to understand their perspective," Possing explains, "that can open us up to so many new things." [18]
    • "So much of the time our interactions are just, we get together with people and we have the same beliefs as them. So it's just like we talk about the same stuff," Possing explains. [19]
    • "But when you start asking people questions," Possing advises, "you learn so much more about them. You learn more about yourself, you deepen your connections." [20]
  7. When you volunteer to help people in need, it teaches you to be more compassionate towards others and open to their struggles. You have the opportunity to see your community through the eyes of someone else, which helps you become more open-minded and empathetic. [21]
    • When you volunteer to support a cause you believe in, you also feel like you're making a difference. This can give you a strong sense of hope and an optimistic outlook for the future.
  8. 8
    Develop and sustain healthy relationships. Healthy relationships give you the support you need to grow and change. Talk with your friends and family members about different issues, ask them questions, and try to understand things from their perspective. Even if you don't agree with them, you'll find yourself seeing different points of view more easily. [22]
  9. 9
    Practice empathy to understand other people's perspectives. "Connecting with other humans is one of the most important parts of our life experience while we're here on Earth," Possing emphasizes. When you can't see things from somebody else's point of view, you prevent that connection, which means you're "preventing an understanding with maybe the entire culture." [23] [24]
    • To boost your empathy , approach others with curiosity rather than judgment. Ask questions rather than assuming that you understand where they're coming from.
  10. Learning a new skill is a great way to almost immediately expand your mind and gain a new perspective. When you learn a new skill, you gain a new understanding of what goes into it—you might even figure out a way to make it better! [25]
    • Don't sleep on relearning something you already know! "One of my favorite things is learning from other people things that I think I already know because then I deepen my own mastery of it." [26]
  11. 11
    Teach someone how to do something new. Teaching a skill to someone else helps you learn more in the process. When you see the mistakes they make or the struggles they face as they learn and improve, it helps you see the process in a different light. It also helps you understand the thing from a totally different perspective. [27]
    • Every time you teach something to someone else, you can potentially take away a new lesson that you've learned about that thing or about the process of doing it.
    • Teaching also gives you a chance to interact and connect with the person.
  12. Meditate regularly and practice living mindfully ). "Starting some sort of a mediation practice," "Possing advises, "is a great way to just become more aware of what's happening in your brain in real time." [28] When you meditate , you become more aware of your thoughts and what's going on in your brain, which can help you eliminate biases that are keeping you from understanding.
    • "There's a million different ways you can do meditation," Possing notes. "Guided, on your own, take classes, whatever." [29]
    • "I do a simple 5-minute meditation where I… go through all the different senses," spending 1 minute on each, Possing recommends. Reader Poll: We asked 424 wikiHow readers which activity was most effective in improving their overall intelligence and brain power, and only 9% said meditation practices . [Take Poll] So, another tool like reading regularly or playing a musical instrument may be more beneficial for you!
  13. Your mind and body are inextricably connected, so if you want to expand your mind, you have to first make sure your body is strong and healthy. Exercise on a daily basis, practice self-care , and do what you can to reduce stress in your life so that you can approach the world with a strong and resilient mind. [30]
    • Make sure you get quality sleep every night. Sleep deprivation can seriously impede your ability to be open-minded and approach the world with curiosity.
  14. Nonfiction can teach you facts about the world, but fiction teaches you about human experiences. Through fiction, you learn more about emotions and how people respond to various situations that you might not have encountered first-hand. Within the pages of a novel, you can experience things that it would be impossible for you to literally experience in real life. [31]
    • "For me, I just love grabbing books from the Self Help section of the bookstore," Possing explains. "I usually listen to books on Audible, or podcasts." [32]
    • "Between the educational, the inspirational or empowering content, like whether it's books or podcasts," Possing recommends "listening to that stuff on a very regular basis at least 10 minutes a day." [33]
  15. 15
    Do things that involve all of your senses. Doing things that engages all of your senses makes it easier for you to stay in the moment and experience things more fully. It also boosts your memory, which helps your mind expand and grow. [34]
    • For example, if you're going to take a bath, you might play soft music in the background to engage your sense of hearing, use aromatherapy to engage your sense of smell, and sip a glass of wine or tea to engage your sense of taste.
  16. 16
    Move your body to music. "When we let go of our brain a little bit and tap into our bodies, into our hearts, it can make a huge difference," Possing explains, "and so a great way to do that is just by moving your body in some sort of way." A great way to do that might be "turning on some music and having a little dance party." [35]
  17. 17
    Speak more than one language. Learning a different language gives you a whole new group of people to interact with and potentially connect with. It also helps you think about things in a different way and gives you a different perspective on the world, which can greatly expand your mind.​​ [39]
    • The key to learning a new language is conversing with native speakers. While you can use language learning textbooks and apps to master vocabulary, the heart of any language is interpersonal communication.
  18. Puzzles and brain teaser games increase your mental flexibility, making it easier for you to see different options and understand different ideas. If you make a habit of doing a puzzle or game every day, you'll notice a big difference in your brain power and ability. [40]
    • Mix up the type of games you play to practice different mental skills. For example, if you do a Sudoku puzzle every day, you might switch things up and do crossword puzzles for a couple of weeks just to exercise your brain a little differently.
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  19. For Oliver, journaling "is a must for everybody. You let every feeling out there and when you write it down, you also see it. It's so important to process whatever issues you may be facing in your life by just writing [them] down." [41]
    • While you can certainly keep a digital journal or write in a blog online, you'll get even more benefit from a handwritten journal. The simple act of writing by hand can improve your brain function and help you process information more deeply. [42]
    • Ratson recommends "creating a gratitude journal" which helps you build "kind of like a thankful attitude towards things." [43]
    • Clissold agrees that "journaling is a very powerful tool" for separating your emotions from facts. "When we're operating from past patterns and traumas, we're going to be carrying those emotions and we're not gonna be able to see clearly the truth of the situation." [44]
  20. 20
    Open your mind to possibilities with positive affirmations. Affirmations "can be done so many different ways," Possing explains, "but the easiest way is just to use the sentence structure 'I am [blank]' and then in the blank, you fill in whatever the characteristic that you want to embody, the thing that you want to step into or have more of or be more of." [45] It might feel a bit fake at first, but the key is to "just create these present tense statements that help you start to practice believing something that you don't yet believe." [46]
    • "The little advanced tip there is to not choose something that's so far out of your own belief system," Possing cautions. Otherwise, your "subconscious mind… won't believe it, it's to big of a jump. So it's helpful to choose something that's just a little step up." [47]
    • "We have so many thoughts," Possing emphasizes. And "so many of them are completely unconscious, they're just happening on autopilot or coming from our childhood programming or conditioning, things we've grown up with, any trauma we may have, like our limiting beliefs or fears." [48]
    • "As soon as we start becoming more aware of our thoughts," Possing explains, "we can identify which of these thoughts are helpful, which are not helpful." [49] Then, you can keep the helpful thoughts and replace the unhelpful ones with more positive thoughts that affirm your value.
  21. 21
    Identify and challenge your biases. Everyone has biases that limit their thinking—many of them are things that are important for you to survive and function in the world. But sometimes, biases can go to far and keep you from learning something new or understanding something you've already been exposed to. [50]
    • Some of these biases are things you've picked up in the world without even consciously thinking of them. By weeding them out and challenging them, you become more open-minded about other perspectives and ways of moving in the world.
  22. 22
    Dig into something you dislike and figure out how to appreciate it. Once you've decided you don't like something, you close yourself to it. But at the same time, there are plenty of people who really like everything you don't like. If you try to figure out what it is they like about the thing, you'll find new ways to appreciate it. [51]
    • When you can appreciate something even if you don't like it, you learn to tolerate things and respect other people's viewpoints, which is essential if you're on a quest to expand your mind and be more open.
  23. Your intuition is a powerful force that can give you a lot of information, especially in situations that are potentially unsafe. While it can be scary sometimes to "go with your gut," listening to your intuition instead of brushing it aside is a big part of expanding your mind. It teaches you to honor and respect other sources of information, even if the source is one that you can't prove with empirical evidence. [52]
    • Whenever you're in a new situation, take a moment to calm yourself and listen. If it feels right, lean into it. If something feels off, on the other hand, you might want to distance yourself from the situation.
    • For example, if you go to a lecture and notice that most of the people in the audience are giving you creepy vibes, you might decide to skip the lecture and go get ice cream instead.
    • Intuition isn't anxiety—it's a deeper emotional response to the energy around you.
  24. Asking questions is how you learn something new, which expands your mind in a very direct and immediate way. Every new detail you learn creates a more intricate picture of the thing. It can also help you recognize patterns and commonalities between seemingly distinct things.
    • This applies to things you think you already know as well. "As soon as we say to ourselves, 'oh, I already know that,' then we shut ourselves down and we limit the amount that we're willing to take in new information," Possing explains. [53]
    • "Even if it is something that I already know, it's so helpful to me if I can still be open to it because I may learn the same thing but with a different perspective." [54]
  25. 25
    Limit your consumption of mental junk food. It's easy to veg out on the couch and kill several hours watching reality shows or doom-scrolling social media on your phone. But exposing yourself to this kind of content can cause stress and trauma as well as damaging your self-esteem. [55]
    • Possing emphasizes that there's a lot of negative content out there. "It's important to counteract it and to balance it out by very intentionally consuming positive content." [56]
    • "I call it positivity brainwashing, which is just inundating your brain with lots of positive content because we're so bombarded with negative stuff all day long," she explains. [57]
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Section 2 of 4:

Making Mind Expansion a Habit

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  1. 1
    Start small so you can build on your success. Possing advises that you "start with the thing that is the easiest to do so you're most likely to do it." [58] Think about some small things that you would like to change—or maybe it's something new that you'd like to add to your life. Schedule it on your calendar so that you're making time for it. Once you've planted the seed successfully, you can expand on the behavior. [59]
    • For example, if you decide you want to start meditating, you might start by meditating for 5 minutes a day when you wake up. After a couple of weeks, you might add another 5-minute meditation session in the evening or make the morning meditation longer.
    • It's usually easier to make small changes because they don't require you to make many (if any) sacrifices. That way, you get to see the benefits of a stronger, more open mind without feeling like it cost you anything to get there.
    • Possing recommends that you "create a habit that's so stupidly small, that it would be absurd not to do it." [60]
  2. 2
    Create cues that will trigger the behavior you want. Your brain forms habits through repetition. If you want to make any behavior a habit, the easiest thing to do is to attach it to something else that you already do habitually. Use the existing good habit as a cue to do the other thing, and before you know it, you'll be doing the other thing habitually too. [61]
    • For example, if you want to get in the habit of repeating positive affirmations every day, you might tape them to your bathroom mirror. Then, you can repeat them while you're getting ready every morning.
  3. When something is part of your routine, you just do it—you don't have to think about it or force yourself to do it. That's how you make something habitual. You can maintain a strong, healthy, open mind almost automatically without even thinking about it. [62]
    • It helps to connect a new behavior to something you already automatically do. For example, if you drink coffee every morning, you might decide that you're going to do a crossword instead of scrolling social media.
    • At first, you will have to remind yourself if you want to stay on the right track—and you'll likely slip up occasionally. That's ok, progress isn't linear! In fact, studies show occasional slip-ups don't even affect the habit-forming process. [63]
    • Possing notes that "one of the mantras I use with a lot of my clients is just keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going, or begin again, begin again, begin again, begin again. Then over time, it's like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets." [64]
    • "So the more you keep going and the more you keep starting every time you fall off, the stronger the muscle gets," Possing concludes. [65]
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Section 3 of 4:

Benefits of Broadening Your Horizons

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  1. 1
    You're more resistant to manipulation. When you have experience evaluating other perspectives and looking at things from other points of view, it's a lot more difficult for someone to limit your options or make you feel trapped. Because you can easily see other options, you won't let yourself get swept away by someone trying to appeal to your self-interest. [66]
    • Because you regularly look at opposing viewpoints, it's also likely that you have the information you need to counter any attempts at lying or manipulation.
    • You also know how to check sources and think critically about any information that's presented to you, which makes it easier for you to spot attempts at manipulation before they gain any ground.
  2. 2
    You're better informed. Studies show that open-minded people are less likely to avoid information than close-minded people. In fact, open-minded people are more likely to seek out information as well as pay attention to information that contradicts their worldview. [67]
    • For example, you might actually seek out information that's contrary to your viewpoint because you want to understand where the other side is coming from.
    • Learning the other side's arguments can help you find ways to undermine them, sure—but it also helps you understand better where they're coming from.
  3. 3
    You're happier and more satisfied with life. Research has shown that when people approach the world with open-mindedness and curiosity, they report feeling more positive and feeling less anxiety. You feel less threatened by your surroundings and more interested in what's going on around you. [68]
    • When you come from a close-minded perspective, on the other hand, you might view everything as a threat or see differences as something to fear.
  4. Expanding your mind enables you to connect with other people on a deeper level. Your relationships are more likely to be stronger because people know that you understand where they're coming from and that you've taken the effort to understand them. They know that you're interested in getting to know them authentically as a whole person—and most people will respond in kind. [69]
    • Possing notes that it's important to "surround yourself with other growth-oriented people… and then being able to vulnerably share your process." [70]
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Section 4 of 4:

Final Thoughts

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  1. Expanding your mind is a rewarding and fulfilling process. If you've been relatively closed for most of your life, becoming more open can be confusing and frustrating at first. Practice being open to other perspectives and ways of doing things by scheduling daily opportunities. After a while, it will become habitual for you to look at the world with curiosity rather than judgment.
    • Expanding your mind is a process that never ends as you engage with the world as a lifelong learner, always growing.
    • Open-minded people tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I expand my thinking?
    Sandra Possing
    Life Coach
    Sandra Possing is a life coach, speaker, and entrepreneur based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sandra specializes in one-on-one coaching with a focus on mindset and leadership transformation. Sandra received her coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute and has seven years of life coaching experience. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
    Sandra Possing
    Life Coach
    Expert Answer
    Try to seek out new experiences and people who are different from you. When you're having a conversation, focus on really listening to what the other person is saying so you can learn from their perspective.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
  • Question
    How do I forgive someone I love who has hurt me so intensely that I cant even handle myself?
    Paul Chernyak, LPC
    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.
    Paul Chernyak, LPC
    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Expert Answer
    Try practicing compassion and acceptance. Forgiveness includes those 2 factors. Once you learn to forgive the other person, you will also learn to forgive yourself as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How can l control stress?
    Paul Chernyak, LPC
    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.
    Paul Chernyak, LPC
    Licensed Professional Counselor
    Expert Answer
    Become aware of where the stress is coming from and try to decrease those triggers or how your think about situations as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      2. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/curiosity
      4. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      5. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      6. ↑ Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC. Marriage & Family Therapist. Expert Interview. 20 March 2024.
      7. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      8. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      9. ↑ Nora Oliver. Certified Life Coach & Motivational Speaker. Expert Interview. 9 June 2023.
      1. ↑ Nora Oliver. Certified Life Coach & Motivational Speaker. Expert Interview. 9 June 2023.
      2. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      3. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      4. ↑ Nora Oliver. Certified Life Coach & Motivational Speaker. Expert Interview. 9 June 2023.
      5. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      6. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      7. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      8. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      9. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      10. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      11. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      12. ↑ https://www.yesprograms.org/stories/the-gift-of-volunteering
      13. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/991700784/youre-probably-not-as-open-minded-as-you-think-heres-how-to-practice
      14. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      15. ↑ https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/open-mindedness
      16. ↑ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/10-reasons-to-learn-something-new-everyday/
      17. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      18. ↑ https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/learning-teaching-others-extremely-effective
      19. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      20. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      21. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/exercise-and-mental-health
      22. ↑ https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/brain.2013.0166
      23. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      24. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      25. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4404829/
      26. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      27. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      28. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      29. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      30. ↑ https://www.middlebury.edu/language-schools/blog/why-you-should-learn-second-language-and-gain-new-skills
      31. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8818112/
      32. ↑ Nora Oliver. Certified Life Coach & Motivational Speaker. Expert Interview. 9 June 2023.
      33. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/positively-media/202403/writing-by-hand-can-boost-brain-connectivity
      34. ↑ Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC. Marriage & Family Therapist. Expert Interview. 20 March 2024.
      35. ↑ Rachel Clissold. Certified Life Coach. Expert Interview. 26 August 2020.
      36. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      37. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      38. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      39. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      40. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      41. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/991700784/youre-probably-not-as-open-minded-as-you-think-heres-how-to-practice
      42. ↑ https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/open-mindedness
      43. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202307/how-to-listen-to-your-intuition
      44. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      45. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      46. ↑ https://www.butler.org/blog/7-ways-social-media-can-affect-mental-health
      47. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      48. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      49. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
      50. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/
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      52. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/changing-habits/
      53. ↑ https://hbr.org/2021/02/what-does-it-really-take-to-build-a-new-habit
      54. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/
      55. ↑ Sandra Possing. Life Coach. Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.
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      57. ↑ https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/open-mindedness
      58. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214804323001787
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      60. ↑ https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/curiosity
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      About This Article

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      One way to expand your mind is to become more informed by reading books, stories, and news every day. While non-fiction books and the news are important for learning about the world, consider reading fiction stories as well because they can open your mind up to new possibilities you may have never imagined. On the flip side, writing is just as beneficial, so keep a daily journal to track your life or try writing a fictional short story. You might find that writing will help you process your thoughts and analyze problems in a new way. Consider posting your writing on a blog, so you can connect with new people who can introduce you to new ideas. For more tips from our co-author, including how to be more aware of the world around you through mindfulness, read on!

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