Skill Extension: Radical Openness What Is Radical Openness?

Hi everyone! Each month, we will feature a new skill that is not a part of the core DBT skills, and either builds upon skills you have already learned or helps you use skills in new ways. This month, our new skill is Radical Openness. 

Radical Openness is being receptive, or open, to new experiences, new information, and feedback from other people. Being open to these things is how we learn. This is important because, in both standard and RO DBT, learning new skills is how we change behavioral patterns that don’t match our values and keep us stuck or unhappy. If we aren’t open to new information, we can’t learn new skills or develop new behaviors. If you notice yourself struggling to change your habits or thinking rigid thoughts, Radical Openness can help you “unstick” yourself. 

People struggle with Radical Openness because of certain core beliefs, which we call “Myths of a Closed Mind.” In the RO DBT Workbook (p. 66), author Thomas Lynch describes 16 myths that keep people stuck in their closed mind. Here are five of the most common of these myths:  

There is a right and wrong way to do things. 

I have tried everything there is to try. There is nothing new out there. 

Even if I try something new, it won’t help. 

Planning ahead is always necessary. 

I have always done things this way; I can’t learn anything new. 

Do you believe any of these myths are true? 

Answer the following questions about that belief (use the fillable worksheet): 

How does this belief help me? 

How does this belief get in my way? 

How does this belief affect my willingness to try new things? 

One of our previous RO DBT Skills, Self Enquiry, is a useful tool in challenging these myths. We recommend you review that skill in conjunction with this one. 

?????? Next Month blurb ??????