You’ve awakened.
Like a bird trapped in a cage for far too long and is finally meeting the freedom of the open sky for the first time. You’re ready to embrace the world and experience all the magic and wonder this permeating life force has to offer you. With infinite possibilities now at your feet, where does one begin?Simple. Begin with a beginner’s mind.
What is Beginner’s Mind?
Beginner’s mind is commonly associated with Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts and is a hallmark of modern-day mindfulness practice. But beyond any secular teaching or any formal practice like meditation, embracing a beginner’s mind is the key to a more enriching and harmonious life.
Let’s face it, in this digital world of the “attention economy,” where we are all trying to stand apart and be recognized as subject matter experts, or “to be known for a niche that you own,” having a beginner’s mind is not a mindset we are inclined to have — or wear proudly on our sleeves for that matter.
But this need to be seen as an expert creates unnecessary unpleasantness in life.
In my 20s, I landed a gig as a hotshot UX director for a swanky Manhattan ad agency. I thought I had it all figured out. I was the go-to guy in the company for all website-related matters. Then the company was bought out by a large corporation, and in came all these Madison Avenue marketing gurus looking to school my team on building “more effective” websites. And boy, did that put a giant chip on my shoulder.
So how did I respond?
I resisted all the workshops and training sessions they forced me to attend by acting like a passive-aggressive jerk with his arms folded and a puss on his face.
My ego was on the chopping block.
And therein lies the benefit of a beginner’s mind. It takes us away from our egoic mind where we view every new situation as a possible threat, and allows us to see it clearly, from a place of presence and sincerity.
“In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few” — Shunryu Suzuki
Start With “I don’t know.”
In our work and career, a beginner’s mind challenges us to be willing not to be an expert. And in our lives in general, beginner’s mind calls us to be willing not to know.
I can’t tell you how many times I fought tooth and nail just to be proven right or tried hard for others to see me as some all-knowing beacon of wisdom.
Beginner’s mind prompts us to ask: What if I went into this situation like I know nothing?
While it’s easy to assume that you know best, that you know what others want, and that you know what’s going to happen next — it’s just as easy to assume you don’t.
These three words of ”I don’t know” — might just be the greatest three words you can say, and dare I say, are the wisdom of a sage.
Let’s try it.
”What is the secret to happiness?”
“I don’t know.”
”How do I grow my business?”
“I don’t know.”
“What is enlightenment?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does God exist?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is what I’m saying in this post even accurate?”
“I don’t know.”
Living With Curiosity
If one could live with “I don’t know” as their guiding principle, they would transform their life in every way.
However, “I don’t know” is not about being naive, acting ignorant, or forgoing our knowledge or opinions. Instead, at the heart of a beginner’s mind lies a sense of genuine curiosity —which becomes the fuel that propels us forward on the path of self-discovery and growth. When we approach life in this way, we become open to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. Every situation, especially ones that create uncertainty, becomes a chance to explore, innovate, and expand our understanding of ourselves, others, and the nature of reality itself. As a result, life becomes much more exciting, interesting, and fun.
Not knowing is truly the most intimate way we can be with life. It’s treating life like a joyous experiment — and living fully engaged with eyes wide open instead halfway shut.
How To Cultivate Beginner’s Mind
Beginner’s mind can take hold when we keep things simple by letting go of preconceived notions, releasing expectations, and finding amazement in the essence of life itself.
Remember what it’s like to be a human.
Here’s an interesting little exercise to help you viscerally experience beginner’s mind. I like to call it “remembering what it’s like to be a human.”
- Choose a quiet setting and commit to just being for a set period.
- Don’t do anything, at least not intentionally. Don’t try to follow your breath. Don’t visualize. Don’t meditate. Nothing.
- Instead, just observe what it’s like to be a human without any judgment or analysis.
- Your only intention is to pay attention, stay curious, and perhaps, learn something new.
I challenge you to set aside a few minutes each day and genuinely pretend you are encountering being a human for the first time. And for many of us, we probably are.
Seek to be amazed.
Another way to cultivate a beginner’s mind is to seek fascination in the otherwise mundane, obvious, and what we take for granted.
For example, have you ever wondered…
- Just how fukin’ amazing this planet we inhabit is? How amazing and unlikely human life actually is? We are statistically the most unlikely thing. Our fathers made 300 million sperm cells, and only one got through.
- How incredible is it that you have eyes that can see, a nose that can smell, and ears that can hear? All of which is happening at the same time your body is breathing by itself, digesting your breakfast from earlier, and performing a slew of other processes you are completely unaware of.
- How amazing is it that the sun comes up in the morning or that the moon goes through cycles, and we can watch that magic move through the sky every night?
Take the world into your arms
While not always easy, beginner’s mind challenges us to live each day and in each moment being open and willing to be amazed. One of the most profound depictions of living with a beginner’s mind comes from poet Mary Oliver in her poem “When Death Comes,” where she writes:
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.”
Speaking of being amazed. Did you almost just fall out of your chair after reading that like I did the first time I read it?
“A bride married to amazement, . . . the bridegroom taking the world into my arms.”
This is the path of a beginner’s mind.
It’s the way I want to live.
It’s the way I plan on dying.
Imagine living your life with that kind of wholeheartedness. With that kind of interest and curiosity.
With that said, what’s stopping you?
You can also check out this podcast I did with my buddy Tom Griffin on Beginner’s Mind on our weekly chat of “15 Minutes of Consciousness.“
Additional resources to explore beginner’s mind
There are many books, articles, and podcasts that delve deeper into the concept of a beginner’s mind and its applications in various aspects of life. Some recommended resources include:
- “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” by Shunryu Suzuki
- “The Power of Not Knowing: How to Thrive in Uncertainty” by Jamie Holmes
- “The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
- Podcast: “15 Minutes of Consciousness” – Episode on Beginner’s Mind
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Anthony V. Lombardo