Expanding Thoughts or Simply Re-inforcing My Beliefs

I’m reading a new book.   Not a surprise considering this is my favorite downtime activity but this time I’m on a non-fiction kick.   Anyway, one of my current books is called “Why People Get Sick”.  It’s a fascinating look at some of the complex factors that play a role in getting sick…many of which fall in line with the body-mind connection.

As this topic is a center piece of my work, naturally I’m excited.  These two authors from England, one a psychoanalyst and one a researcher, offer some history and some social commentary.  The history is about how the body-mind connection had a greater recognition in the 40’s through the 60’s and have since been fading off behind the simplistic germ and genetic disposition theories of illness.  If this is interesting, check out the book yourself.

The question I’m pondering today is, do I really look to stretch my awareness and perceptions, or do I gravitate towards that which re-inforces what I already believe?  This isn’t a new idea but I’ve always considered myself more progressive and open minded.  So how do I know…am I attracted to interesting ideas that are simply more accurate or am I stuck in a habit, a rut?

What do you think?  Anyone else caught in such a loop.