When a sky diver jumps out of a plane, he begins to fall thanks to gravity. He could hover in the air for a bit but his descent is certain. The only thing that could keep him steady in the air so he does not crash unto the ground is a parachute. However, it must be opened for it to work.
This is what, I believe Frank Zappa meant when he said,
A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.
A human mind is a complex but powerful part of our being. It's breadth and width cannot be fathomed. It could be stretched as wide and thin as you want.
The mind is a medium through which we process life and understand it. It's output determines who we are and tells the world about our personality. Our decision comes from our minds.
For our minds to work effectively, we must be open to new ideas, new things. This means CHANGE. A lot of us fight change because we have become comfortable with what we are used to. We'd rather hold unto what we are familiar with than venture into a new territory.
Life is not stagnant, it's dynamic. It's always evolving. What is today may not be tomorrow or next month and so we should evolve with it.
An open mind or lifestyle also is applicable to some cultures and customs that are repugnant to our sense of fairness, morality and rightness. As the world evolves, people begin to appreciate that some ways of living are not right