Excerpt from Walk in Dry Places by Mel B.
Open-Minded but Concerned
Responsibility
Open-mindedness is a quality that helps us attract new ideas for our self-improvement. Oddly, many of us thought we were open-minded long before we ever considered a Twelve Step program.
We learned that what we considered open-mindedness was really just indifference based on self-justification. It follows that people who are deep into selfish, compulsive behavior will appear to be open-minded and even very tolerant. This attitude is really the result of a desire to be accepted in spite of questionable behavior. It reflects no concern for others.
In living the program, we seek to cultivate true open-mindedness. This means being open to new ideas and opportunities, but also being concerned about others and taking care not to harm them.
Today I’ll be open to what people are thinking and saying. I will be careful not to let my own prejudices keep me from viewpoints that help me and others.