Yes, you read that right. How we think does significantly impact our mental flexibility. By extension our thinking style influences how we make sense of information, form our thoughts, appreciate perspectives and adapt to changing situations.
A rigid thinking style can hinder mental flexibility, while a more malleable mindset nurtures cognitive fluidity. And so, living in a world that is constantly in a state of flux, more so now than ever before, our ability to adapt, grow, and respond effectively to ‘newness’ and challenges determines much of our mental health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Psychological Flexibility and its Importance
Psychological flexibility – the capacity to shift thoughts, manage emotions and calibrate actions in response to different situations – is a key determinant of survival, resilience and overall wellbeing. At its core, how we think either expands our possibilities or confines us within rigid, repetitive thought patterns. A flexible mind opens up space for us to step outside automatic responses and base animal instincts, tap into the brain’s incredible potential to contemplate and intellectualise, thus enabling us to navigate uncertainties with greater ease.
Active cultivation of psychological flexibility predicts better problem-solving, better resilience in the face of adversity, and lesser likelihood of falling into patterns of distress and rumination. Rigid thinking – where we are resistant to alternative viewpoints and become fixated on specific interpretations – keeps us trapped in repetitive cycles that can hinder personal growth and meaningful relationships.
Here are some ways in which our thinking can either enhance or limit our psychological flexibility:
Automatic Negative Thoughts vs. Constructive Reflection
None of us is immune to experiencing automatic negative thoughts – self-defeating thinking patterns that arise instinctively in response to challenges, threats, dangers and risks. In fact, these automatic thoughts are evolutionary responses that have served to keep us alive and safe & speak volumes of our success as a species. But when left unchecked, we fail to utilise one very important tool in our arsenal – that of contemplation – and the very same thoughts can reinforce mental rigidity, cause strife and bring us distress. Developing and habitually practising constructive reflection – where we evaluate our thoughts and reframe them in a balanced way – helps us break free from negative thought loops, destructive behaviours and adopt a more forgiving approach to life and its quirks.
Attachment to Certainty vs. Tolerance for Ambiguity
As a species hardwired for survival, we all naturally seek certainty. But an excessive need for predictability can lead to inflexible thinking and a self-defeating tendency of ‘othering’ others, whether people or ideas. Those among us who are more tolerant of ambiguity and accepting of differences are better equipped to handle changes, conflicts and strife as we do not need stringent certainties to feel secure.
A Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
A fixed mindset, – where we see abilities and intelligence as static, limits our potential to grow. In contrast, a growth mindset allows us to view challenges as opportunities for learning and development. When we believe that our skills and perspectives can evolve, we are more open to new ideas and experiences, including learning from unpleasant ones.
Cognitive Rigidity vs. Open-Mindedness
Cognitive rigidity refers to an inflexible way of thinking where we insist on seeing things in one particular way. Being stubbornly uncompromising can lead to frustration, stress, and difficulty adapting to change. Open-mindedness, on the other hand, fosters curiosity, makes us kinder, enables us to consider different viewpoints thus making problem-solving more effective and reducing emotional distress to ourselves and others.
Cultivating Psychological Flexibility
Seeing as our thinking patterns do influence our overall well being, it’s crucial to develop habits that break old ways of thinking and foster new ways of forming our thoughts. That said, how do we cultivate psychological flexibility? Here are 3 strategies I can suggest to enhance your psychological flexibility:
Prepare the brain to think differently – seek diverse perspectives and new experiences:
In order to recalibrate our brains to think more dynamically, it is imperative that old moulds are broken. We must remember that who we have become today is a sum total of all our past experiences – in some way and to some extent our lived experiences thus far have imprinted on our psyche. For us to become more flexible in how we arrange our thoughts, unhelpful ways must be identified and discarded. So, keep what is useful and valuable but be courageous to call out and dispose of what has been unhelpful to you.
Let me use the imagery of a garden. First, we must identify and weed out mindset patterns that rob us of valuable variables in our lives – our wellbeing, our careers, our relationships. With old thinking patterns out, only then can the soil of the mind make clean space to start growing ‘newness’ by receiving novel plants - new perspectives gained through travelling, changing routines, actively engaging with a diverse range of people, speaking to a therapist, watching vodcasts and listening to podcasts, among others. Then, fertilise with frequent doses of curiosity to keep expanding your mind’s capacity to think in advanced ways. And last but not least, irrigate with some water of self-compassion mixed with forgiveness – kindness towards yourself even as you stumble every once in a while, because we all sometimes fall into old ways and have mercy for others who do not know any better. Slowly but surely, the garden of your mind will bloom to become quite different to what it looked like once upon a time.
Practice Mindfulness – Develop Awareness:
With your improved brain space, you now possess greater readiness to develop a deeper awareness. Incidentally, I am not a fan of this word ‘Mindfulness’ because of how often it’s been bandied about as an almost cure-all for everything and how often it is used in the wrong context. So, let me simplify it. It just means – being AWARE of what is happening with you and around you in the present moment & asking yourself – “is there anything I can do to change what is happening?”
If your answer is in the affirmative, then do what you can within your capacity. If your answer is “No”, then accept that there are limits to your reach and effectiveness. Being aware of our own place in the big scheme of things is very liberating. It keeps our apathy in check and at the same time frees us from getting caught up in the hype of our own celebrity and self-importance.
Challenge Your Assumptions: Regularly question your beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. Even the most flexible and intellectual among us is not immune from biases, assumptions and stereotypes. If you have, for example, fraught relationships with most people in your life then surely everyone else cannot be the problem all the time? Perhaps it is you that is rigid in your thinking, perhaps it is you who needs to change and grow?
A cautionary tale I wish to add is regarding the ‘Mandela Effect’. It is an actual documented social phenomenon where a large group of people consistently misremember facts, events, or details – often believing they remember something that never actually happened. The core of the Mandela Effect is the shared, false memory that many people hold, even though the facts are readily available and verifiable. The term became mainstream after paranormal researcher Fiona Broome shared her vivid but false memory of Nelson Mandela dying in prison in the 1980s, despite his actual release and later ascendency to the Presidentship of South Africa.
Other common documented examples include ‘Berenstain Bears’, NOT Berenstein Bears. And while those 4 women were having sex in the city, the show was actually called ‘Sex And The City’. The exact cause is still debated but potential explanations of the Mandela Effect include confabulation (the brain's tendency to fill in memory gaps or distort memories), misremembering (errors in recall amplified by social sharing) and social influence (memories influenced by what we read or hear from others).
So, DO regularly question your dogged beliefs about things, especially when people you know who care for you highlight to you that you are not wholly accurate in your narrative. Remember – just because you weren’t there, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen; just because you were there, doesn’t mean it happened exactly the way you think it did. So, learn to keep an open mind and question your own thinking tendencies.
The Final Analysis
The way we think shapes our capacity for psychological flexibility. By fostering open-mindedness, challenging rigid thought patterns, and embracing adaptability, we unlock the ability to respond more effectively to life’s changing landscapes. In doing so, we enhance our wellbeing, resilience, and overall mental freedom. Psychological flexibility frees us to form better thoughts thereby paving the way for us to live with greater ease, openness, and fulfilment.
The X Files – the truth is out there.
