5 Steps to Flexible Thinking

Some people are more flexible in their thinking and the way they do things. They seem to flow through changes quite easily and effortlessly whereas for others it can be extremely challenging.

If you have ever taken a Yoga class or know a bit about it, you realize that you wouldn’t start at an intermediate class, you would start with the beginners. You have to learn the basics first, develop balance, and flexibility then gradually you move up.

If you started with, for example a Pyramid, Lizard, or a Full Pigeon pose, you might find you haven’t developed enough suppleness in your body because it’s not used to bending in these positions. In time and with practice you would be amazed at how your body moves and becomes more and more flexible.

Your mind isn’t any different it can learn to become flexible instead of inflexible.

You can welcome and accept changes, variations, and challenges in your life because these very things are teaching you to open up to new possibilities of being and doing things.

Sometimes our thinking is rigid, or we are set in our ways, or it’s our way or the highway, or things happen that change our routines or schedules and leave us flailing around like a fish out of water, or we are constantly second guessing or overanalyzing things.

When you find yourself being inflexible to something different than what you know or are used to, you can feel threatened, fearful, frustrated, and sometimes angry. These responses are being brought forth for you to stretch your thinking, change tactics and methods.

You know the saying, “there is a method to my madness”, well, there is, and that is your old mode of operandi is in for a change.

I’m sure you or someone you know have thought in black or white where there is only one way of thinking. The grey is not even on the palette of choice so to speak; this is inflexibility.

An exception would be when others perceive you making choices that are best for you as being inflexible, this comes from honouring yourself and establishing healthy boundaries, therefore this is not inflexibility.

So how do you become flexible in your thinking?

Step 1. Question.
Ask yourself, “Am I being flexible or inflexible in this situation?” Often we become tricked by believing that our way is a better way, or the only way there is.

This is about giving and receiving, compromising, seeing things differently, trying new ways, looking at things from a different perspective, and moving from problem thinking to possibility thinking.

Being flexible doesn’t always mean having to give in, change your ways or say yes. What it means is you are looking at things from a different perspective first, and then making a choice that is best, this is flexibility.

Step 2. Recognize.
Begin to see where you’re being inflexible. Is it in your thinking? Is it your way of doing things at home or at work, or is it with someone in particular?

When your mind-set or methods are set, harsh, or rigid, bring your attention to how you can be more flexible.

Take a piece of paper and on one side of the paper write down all the ways and areas in your life where you are set in your ways; then on the other side write down all the possibilities where you can begin to be more open, receptive, co-operative, and accommodating.

It may not be in all areas, but you might discover one or two that could use a little bending on your part.

View it as a chance to change your thoughts or way of doing things. You never know what might be waiting when you stretch your thinking.

Step 3. Clarity.
When you are stuck in inflexibility your emotions may be clouding your inner knowing. You might have expectations of how things “should be” and be quick to jump to assumptions, conclusions, and falsities stemming from the ego’s need to be right, or in control.

When feelings take over, it’s hard to see things clearly and therefore you’re probably reacting and/or overreacting rather than viewing the situation and responding to it.

This is a time to let the rigidness in your thinking and way of doing things become more supple and freeing.

Gaining clarity helps you see and understand things in a different way; it makes room for insights to take place.

Step 4. Listen.
Take a few deep breaths and become calm and listen to the quiet voice within. It’s difficult for to hear if your mind-set and actions are stiff and you’re too busy to pay attention.

When you are listening, you are opening to other views, ideas, ways, methods, behaviours, and most importantly, you are allowing room to learn from the experience, to stretch beyond your discomfort and comfort zones, and expand your “beingness”.

When you are listening you are inviting in new opportunities and ways to learn, grow and remember there is so much more to life than meets the eye.

Step 5. Imagination.
New understandings are in store for you when you use your mind’s eye. Creative powers and solutions are at work when you let them in.

Envision the person or situation you feel is getting your attention as a means to practice bending your ways, to recognize where you are being inflexible, to become clear by letting go of what’s clouding your inner knowing, and to listen to the guidance within and allow your imagination to inspire and direct new ways of being and doing things.

The word “nation” is part of the word imagination. Just imagine what the world would be like if we were all a little more flexible instead of inflexible in our thinking and actions.

You can’t expect others to change their ways but you can begin by altering yours. Here lies true flexibility.

Stretch your body and mind and as you do so, your soul will be delighted by the movement of learning, growing and expanding.

Remember, flexibility is a choice and with practice you will be making moves you never thought possible.

The Insight Technique™ assists you knowing and transforming your inflexibility so you can become a flexible, freedom thinker.