A few years ago I read Think Like a Rocket Scientist, which is very practical and bursting with insights on how to think better in order to solve problems and achieve your goals. The author, Ozan Varol, is a former rocket scientist. Varol’s insights are based on his own personal journey as well as his extensive research on problem-solving and creativity.

I recommend you read it.

Mr. Varol recently released a new book, called Awaken Your Inner Genius. It’s a self-help book that teaches readers how to unleash their creativity and achieve their full potential. Varol argues that genius is not something that is only possessed by a select few, but rather a state of mind that can be cultivated by anyone. He provides a variety of tools and techniques to you them tap into your inner genius.

One such technique is discarding what no longer serves you: In order to make room for new ideas and creativity, we need to first let go of the old ways of thinking that are holding us back. This means identifying the beliefs, habits, and relationships that are no longer serving us and making a conscious effort to change them.

One way to discard what no longer serves you, specifically beliefs, is to keep an open mind and change your perspective.

Here are 3 tactics he personally uses to keep an open mind and avoid confirmation bias:

1. Don’t blend ideas into your identity. Write your opinions in temporary ink so they can be revised. Instead of saying, “This is what I believe,” say, “This is how I currently understand this issue.” This wording makes it clear that our ideas and opinions—just like ourselves—are works in progress, continually changing and improving. “‘What I believe’ is a process rather than a finality,” as Emma Goldman put it.
2. Ease the blow on your ego. The hardest part about thinking differently is admitting that what you once believed is now wrong. That’s an admission that most egos are unwilling to make. So tell your ego it wasn’t wrong. To ease the blow, tell yourself that you were right given what you knew—given your partial view of the elephant. But now that new information has come to light about other parts of the elephant you couldn’t see before, your beliefs should change. This way, you’re not canceling your past self. You’re simply updating it.
3. Ask yourself a simple question. Take one of your firmly held beliefs. Ask yourself, What fact would change my opinion on this subject? If the answer is, No fact would change my opinion, you don’t have an opinion. You are the opinion.

I think these three tactics are a very practical way to keep an open mind and question our deeply held beliefs, some of which might hold us back. Once you take off the blinders composed of your beliefs, you can see the world and yourself more clearly.

Remember, one perspective is no perspective. Every time you spot a new perspective, you change how you see the world. The world itself hasn’t changed. But your perception of it has.

Bottom line: Awaken Your Genius is a well-written and inspiring book that provides you with a roadmap for unlocking your full potential. Varol’s insights are based on his own personal journey as well as his extensive research on creativity and genius. If you are looking for a book to help you unleash your creativity and achieve your goals, then Awaken Your Genius is a great place to start.