When a new idea comes to mind (if it doesn’t slip from the mind before we write it down), our first impulse may be to shove it aside because it is strange. Acting on this impulse, we may de¬velop the habit of rejecting new ideas. Yet life is interesting to us in terms of the ideas we have.
Those who make scientific discoveries give new ideas a “fighting chance.” They test out their ideas with experiments to find out which ones will work and which ones will not work, and how worthwhile they are.
As we behave toward our own ideas, we behave toward the ideas suggested by others. When someone makes a suggestion, our first reaction may be to knock it down—not examine it carefully and ask questions about it.
Yet it may be good policy to listen carefully to what others are saying once in a while, and try to figure out what they mean. Perhaps we should ask them to elaborate on their ideas. The new idea that sounds silly at first may prove to be very significant on closer examination or if put to a practical test. We tend to give strange ideas, like strange people, the brush-off.
We can block off a new idea by saying, “Don’t clutter up my mind. I have too much to worry about without this intrusion.”
When we are upset and think we have too much on our minds, we may have too little on our minds. We may be allowing one worry or grievance to dominate our attention. We may be frantically warding off the very ideas that would help us most in solving our problems and putting our worries to rout. When we are worried we are in darkness. We need to open the door of our minds and let the sunlight in.
As it is good to accept ideas, it is good to accept people.