Whether an environment is open or not is crucial for expanding one's cognitive boundaries. In a relatively restrictive environment, you're likely stuck in an information echo chamber. In a society with too much uniformity, it's difficult to achieve significant alpha. This is because many possibilities are stifled, and most people are stuck in a predetermined cycle. When you can think outside the box and beyond established rules, you'll realize how detrimental the environment's constraints on your development can be. Therefore, in your youth, it's essential to explore the world. Horizons, knowledge, resources, and methods are all potentially more important than simply working hard in isolation.