Another way of keeping an open mind is empathy. If someone you know is getting everything they dreamed of when you still haven’t it is tough. Also, even when you do have what you want it can be hard to watch someone you know get it more easily than you did. Home values are a classic example of this. We bought our home last year for 170K and now we hear stories from all directions of people getting more house for less money. We even know of one buyer who is claiming a second FHA. Last I checked, FHA was a FIRST TIME BUYER program, and yet people are eligible in 3 years to get the loan again, even after BK. Decisions like these are no doubt why our country is in a financial mess but that isn’t the topic here.
Empathy is only helpful to an open mind when you really care. Instead of thinking of how lucky someone you know is, remember the struggles you have been through when in their shoes. The grass is always greener on the other side. The “perfect” situation you are envious of may have more holes in it than Swiss cheese. When you practice empathy, you begin to train your mind to be open like a clear summer day, not closed like a snapped closed bear trap.
