The benefits of a flexible mind (and 5 tips to achieve it)

Why is psychological flexibility important?

We are in a world that is moving faster and more changing. In addition, this technological society makes us constantly need to adapt to many new things, and not only at work.

Gone are the times of stable work, always with the same partner, living all life in the same site... it is not that before there were no changes or that now these standards are impossible, rather it is the speed of things.

Now we are shaken by more changes in less time, and the search for security in many cases has been relegated to knowing how to adapt to the new so as not to be left behind. Many times we cannot choose not to change, and if we have psychological flexibility we make it easier for us to face changes adequately.

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What does it mean to have a flexible mind?

Cognitive flexibility allows you to have flexible thinking, because you are able to see things from different angles, to assimilate the new information that comes to you and take another direction, to adapt better to the new circumstances, be more creative and decisive...

We are more inflexible or rigid than we think, our vision of the world is very rooted in what we already know or we have been taught, to the point that we can affirm that each one lives in his reality, since it is not the same reality for everybody.

This circumstance gives us room to decide; that is why many speak of "build your reality", and they are somewhat right. It is important to know what your power is to live or see things differently, and this gives you the power to change or face them as best suits you.

A rigid mind is one that leads you over and over again to act the same, and you may act this way out of conviction over and over again even though it doesn't work for you. If you are often trapped in circumstances or feelings and always end up the same, I invite you to ask yourself if you have been trapped, if you need to open yourself up to the possibility of seeing things from another perspective.

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How do I know if I have fallen into the trap of a rigid mind?

The first thing is observe what things in our life seem to not change or always have an unsatisfactory result. We must bear in mind that you can have a rigid mind for certain aspects and a more flexible mind with more openness for others.

For example, you may think that you have to learn something new for your profession and feel able to adapt to it. this change, even look for it, and at the same time believe that no relationship is going to be the same as the one you had with that boy.

This last example may seem like an absolute and reasoned truth, but this belief can also be a prison that prevents you from enjoying love again. It is natural for you to think this.

Ever, the difference the mark how this thought or belief evolves in you. If it doesn't evolve, it will be a trap that will put barriers on you. You will see everything more negative, because by believing that you will never find the happiness you had with that person again, you will be defensive, it will cost you to have illusion, you will constantly compare this new love with the one you already had and everything will confirm that it is not the same, your belief will be fulfilled and you will think that you have reason.

If you have a flexible mind, you will give yourself room to see what this new relationship brings you, you will see the "no equals" as an opportunity to be with someone different that makes you feel the love of another manner. You will conclude that no relationship is the same and that although you knew that you would never have a relationship like the one you had in the end, you have found a different love that can also make you very happy. And so will allow you to evolve and be happy again.

This is just one example of how a flexible mind allows you to move forward and face the life of another way, not staying stuck for example in how things were and in the belief of how they should to be. A flexible mind allows you to discover new paths.

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Characteristics of a rigid mind

It is easy to detect if you have a rigid mind if you are entrenched in an opinion, if you think that everyone is wrong except you. To know if you have fallen into this trap that makes you feel safe and embrace your beliefs, built by your experiences or your past history, I suggest you analyze: when was the last time you were able to change your mind? opinion?

A flexible mind is capable of modify a judgment about something by receiving new information that contradicts what was previously thought. A flexible mind will naturally be able to assimilate that new knowledge or evidence and modify what you think without falling into defending yourself tooth and nail against what contradicts your position previous. It will be able to learn, evolve and grow.

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5 tips to work on having psychological flexibility

Keep these tips in mind to develop mental flexibility.

1. Here and now is where what really matters happens, where you have the opportunity to live

The past is already history, learn from it, don't live in it, and the future is yet to live. But if you don't live in the present you won't be able to live in the future, since you will never be present.

2. Learn from your mistakes

The blame is not for you to keep, its intention is cause you to act differently next time. Mistakes don't talk about you, but how you deal with them does say a lot.

3. Get out of the absolute thoughts, black/white, good/bad...

embrace the nuances which means that there is not only one correct answer. Reality is full of details, approaches, points of view...

4. Dare to change, to explore new things...

Do what doesn't suit you, get used to trying, to enjoy learningtake off the labels... Discover more about yourself leave the limitations for rigid minds.

5. Connect with what really is of value to you

Giving everything so much importance can be overwhelming. Do not wait to receive a blow to fall into what is really important, health, family... Start living today!