5 ways of thinking that can limit your mind

If something characterizes the human mind, it is its ability to adapt to the environment. Contrary to what happens with most other animal species, our behavior is much more marked by the way in which we decide to learn to act that with the genetically encoded actions in our DNA. That is: the human being is characterized by his creativity, the freedom with which he chooses to take totally original routes of thought.

However, in our day to day this creative potential is not always being fully exploited. There are many psychological factors that limit it and that, if we are able to neutralize them, will leave behind all that range of thought and that mental flexibility that our brain entails and that, in some cases, we did not know that we had.

That is why it is practical to review our psychological habits and identify those ways of thinking that limit our imagination and reduce its range.

• You may be interested: "The routines and mindset of creative people"

Psychological habits that limit our thinking

The first thing to keep in mind when understanding why there are some ways of thinking that limit the possible mental routes we choose from is that the The human brain, despite having an incredible number of neurons (more than 80 billion of them in an adult), has limited resources to carry out its Actions.

And yes, thought is also one of those psychological functions carried out by the brain, since it does not exist outside of our body. Here we are not talking about using 100% of our brain (something we already do constantly, despite what indicate the myth of 10% of the mind), but to manage well the biological resources of our nervous system that are already being used.

Thus, we must choose the mental habits that best allow us to exploit the limited amount of resources in our brain when it comes to orient you towards as broad, flexible and creative thinking as possible. And to do so, you must first identify those thought patterns that limit this flexibility. The main ones are the following.

1. Procrastination

The term procrastination is usually familiar to very few people, but almost everyone knows its other name: the "I'll do it tomorrow" syndrome.. It is a way of thinking that leads to constantly looking for excuses to postpone challenges. However, the striking thing about procrastination is that it does not appear only when we have to face complex problems; It can also slow us down when carrying out simple tasks, such as hanging clothes or proposing creative solutions to a situation to be solved.

This is what makes the "I'll do it tomorrow" syndrome so limiting our thinking; Every time we reach a point where some flexibility of mind is demanded of us, the anticipation of this little effort can to defer this task, allowing us to continue in that easy state in which our thinking is on the rails of the custom. And of course, postponing creative thinking greatly increases the chances that we will end up not facing that little challenge.

• Related article: "Procrastination or the "I'll do it tomorrow" syndrome: what it is and how to prevent it"

2. Rumination

Rumination is a thought pattern that consists of entering a loop of obsessive ideas from which it is difficult for us to get out. For example, if something we have done recently makes us very ashamed, it is possible that, whatever we do, all thoughts end up leading to the memory of us being ridiculous in front of others, which leads us to continue worrying about that incident and, as a consequence, predisposes us even more to recall that experience in the future.

Rumination works relatively simply: the more you think about an idea, image, or memory, more possible it is that, automatically and without intending it, that mental content will assault our consciousness. This not only leads to increased anxiety, but also limits creativity, since it ties us to anguish and anticipated fear of "reawakening" that memory.

• Related article: "Rumination: the annoying vicious circle of thought"

3. Excessive perfectionism

Many times perfectionism, far from being something that pushes us to constantly improve, prevents us from taking the first steps necessary to progress. If before starting a project in which breadth of thought and a good dose of creativity will be required of you You realize that you spend a lot of time worrying about the blow to your self-esteem that could be a failure, this psychological habit may be acting as an anchor.

4. Analysis paralysis

Analysis paralysis is a mental block that keeps us anchored in the decision-making phase. What characterizes this pattern of thought is that it is often not perceived as a problem, since the time spent in choosing the The best of the possible options is not seen as a stoppage, but with a need to ensure success by choosing what we most like. it agrees.

In other words, the paralysis of analysis is a kind of perfectionism fixed in the choice phase. We give up choosing one of the options that is offered to us because, in some way, we are afraid of the possibility of failure; That is why we prefer to stay in a previous phase where we can fantasize about success.

• Related article: "The 'paralysis of analysis'; when overthinking becomes a problem"

5. Blaming others

Blaming others and the environment for everything bad that happens to us is a sure way to stay where we are. Of course, it is not unreasonable that much of our problems are the fault of others, but if we concentrate all our attention only on the responsibilities of others we will lose sight of the range of options between which we can choose.