Any sincere discussion about an open mind will ultimately lead to consideration of having an open heart because, after all, what we are really talking about is *being* open.

Dan Millman, one of my favorite authors and teachers, wrote:

“You haven’t opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior’s way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability – to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt.  All along, I have shown you by example that a warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.” (Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives – buy it; you’ll love it!)

Are you living with your heart wide open?  How do you feel when both your mind and your heart are wide open?  How have you felt when one or both have been shut down?  How have you opened up when you have been unavailable?

How open are you to change, to opportunity, to life?  We humans have sometimes felt as though we’ve known “the answer” – and we’ve perhaps gotten stuck there when our perceptions became rigid.

Coach Phil Jackson said, “Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart.”

Keeping an open mind is most often simply a matter of practicality because circumstances are always changing, so one’s mind or perceptions often move as well.  And having compassionate hearts assists in keeping our minds open.

Would you characterize yourself as having an open mind, or are you more rigid in your points of view?  How can we balance being open, yet being decisive when we need to be?

RENEWAL – our topic this week – is a great topic from both a business and personal perspective. Among the meanings of the word are: “to make as new,” “restore to new condition,” “renovate, rejuvenate, recreate, reestablish.”

On a macro level, attempts are being made to renew our financial system. On a personal level, you may be actively engaged in renewing an aspect of your life. In any case, renewal happens best when it’s engaged with an open mind and heart.

One can be very energized by the notion of “starting over” and making something “as good as new.” There can be tremendous energy from starting with a blank slate.

Where in your personal life would a focus on renewal be the most productive . . . . and potentially the most rewarding and enjoyable? Where in your business and professional life can you envision the benefits of renewal?

Copyright 2009. E. B. Hutt Bush and Coaching for Results, Inc.