With the start of a new year, most of us are trying our best to ensure that we unleash our best selves.
We are in the process of learning new things and unlearning old habits that might have held us back in the previous year.
Unfortunately, many of us unknowingly think we know it all. And that gets in the way of our ability to learn new things and be better versions of ourselves or improve in various aspects of our lives.
Embracing the Japanese concept of Shoshin can help us understand that we don’t know everything and we need to open up to the potential of learning new things.
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What is Shoshin?
Shoshin is a concept in Zen Buddhism that means “beginner’s mind” or “beginner’s spirit.”
It refers to the attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even if one is an expert. Shoshin encourages a mindset that is free from preconceived notions and is receptive to new ideas and possibilities.
The idea is that when you approach a subject with a beginner’s mind, you are more open to learning and discovering new insights, as opposed to approaching it with the mindset of an expert who might be bound by established beliefs and habits.
Shoshin encourages humility and a continuous sense of curiosity, fostering a more flexible and adaptable mindset. This concept is not limited to Zen Buddhism and can be applied to various aspects of life, learning, and personal growth.
‘If your mind is empty, it is ready for anything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.’- ZEN MASTER SHUNRYU SUZUKI
7 Ways to Foster Shoshin
Realizing that there is always room to learn more.
When you think you know everything there is to know about a topic, concept, or field, you lose the ability to understand that there is room to learn more.
Once you open up to the possibility of increasing your knowledge, it becomes easier to listen to those around you and open up to learning.
Challenging yourself to view things from a different perspective.
Once you try to see things from an alternate perspective, you will realize that there is always more to learn.
We mostly see things from one perspective unless we actively try to use a different lens. Do your best and challenge your understanding of things and you will realize that there is a lot more for you to learn.
Experience failure.
Failure can be such a humbling experience.
It can hurt in the moment, but once we get over the hurt, we realize that we don’t know everything and we need to try and learn more. Failure is a critical part of learning and growing!
If we do not experience it, we might have a hard time realizing that we need to be ready to learn more. Failure should not be treated as a sign of defeat, but rather as a reminder that there is still a bit more for us to learn.
Explain the concepts to other people.
When you know something, you are likely to oversimplify it and assume that you know everything.
Once you explain the material to others and give them room to ask you questions, you will realize that there may be some gaps in your existing knowledge and you need to open up to the possibility of learning more.
Pay attention to the fine details.
When you have been doing something for a long time, you end up only viewing it as a whole rather than as a product of small finder details.
Challenge yourself to pay attention to those little steps that lead to the final product. You’ll be able to question why you do certain things in a particular way, which will help you realize there are other possibilities you might have otherwise not thought of.
Recognize that intelligence does not have a peak.
Once you realize that you can never know everything that is there to know, you open up to constantly learning new things and improving your intelligence.
Without this understanding of intelligence, you believe that what you know is enough and there is no room for more. One needs to constantly remind oneself that there is more to learn and that they are capable of learning more.
Allow your mind to wander.
It is important for us to sometimes let go and allow our minds to wander to places we would not usually let them go.
When you allow your thoughts to flourish, you realize that there are certain things you don’t know. You open up the endless possibilities that exist and open up to learning about them.
Final thoughts on Shoshin
Shoshin is not easy to achieve – because as humans we tend to have a hard time recognizing and accepting that we are not perfect.
When we approach things with eagerness and as though we are being introduced to the concepts and ideas for the first time, we develop and maintain a growth mindset, which is essential in navigating various circles of life from social and personal to professional and spiritual.
When we embrace a beginner’s mindset, we realize that just because we are familiar with something doesn’t mean we know everything!
Shoshin can help us transform ourselves and allow us to unleash the best versions of ourselves and learn more about the things we love.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Dec 27, 2023 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Photo by Kaushal Moradiya