10 Ways to practice the Beginner's Mind

The idea of the beginner’s mind is a concept from Zen Buddhism, called ‘shoshin’, which invites us to experience life in a way that is unburdened by the past and by previous knowledge. An open mind can relieve you from stress, preconception, and prejudice and enrich every aspect of your life. One Zen master called beginner’s mind “a mind that is empty and ready for new things.” When we cultivate it, we free ourselves from expectation and allow ourselves to be open and alert to take in new information and experiences and be renewed moment by moment.

Take one step at a time.

1. Use Don’t Know mind. Don’t pre-judge.

2. Don’t negate experience, but keep an open mind on how to apply it to each new circumstance.

3. Let go of being an expert.

4. Experience the moment fully.

5. Disregard common sense.

6. Discard fear of failure.

7. Use the spirit of enquiry.

8. Focus on questions, not answers.

9. Fall down seven times, get up eight times.