Open/Closed Minded, Introspection & Convictions

If you ask anybody if are they open minded, they will most probably say yes. But not everybody is open minded. Is this a problem of introspection or the person is just bragging? To be honest, I think I am a bit closed minded. I would say I'm somewhere between open and closed minded (the little gray area). If someone came up with a point which is challenging my convictions, I will probably first deny the whole thing (a normal reaction just as everybody does) and then examine it thoroughly, to determine whether the new argument or my conviction is more practical and useful. Then just discard the impractical one. I don't care whether it's the new one or the old one. As long as it works for me, it's fine. Practicality is the measure of my convictions. 

Definitions: Open-minded - "unprejudiced: free from prejudice and receptive to new ideas" (Microsoft Encarta, 2007), "willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to you own" (Cambridge, 2003) Closed-minded - "closed to new ideas or opinions: rigidly and obstinately averse to the consideration of new ideas or other people's arguments" (Microsoft Encarta, 2007) Introspection - self-examination: the detailed mental examination of your own feelings, thoughts, and motives (Microsoft Encarta, 2007), "examination and consideration of your own ideas, thoughts and feelings" (Cambridge, 2003) Convictions - "firmly held belief: a belief or opinion that is held firmly" (Microsoft Encarta, 2007), "a strong opinion or belief" (Cambridge, 2003)

 (Written on 29 August 2009)