Mental flexibility is the ability to shift your perspective so that you can easily accommodate new information.
This flexibility is important because the ability to take in new info brings an ease to life's unexpected changes. I used to be horrible at this! I’m a manager by nature (partially due, I’m sure, to being the oldest of 3) and life was something that needed to be beaten into a nice, tidy, orderly series of events. This worked great… as long as there were no bumps along the way. Bumps and deviations from what I had planned were a source of stress, and because life is nothing if not unpredictable this meant I was stressed a lot.
At times my life felt like a house of cards, one small gust of wind could knock everything down… this was exhausting, unsustainable and clearly bad for my health. As a result, I was experiencing chronic insomnia and severe headaches every day! In this state of hyper stress, I was definitely not the mom, friend, sister, or spouse that I wanted to be. There is no doubt that if I had stayed on that path I would have become increasingly more unhealthy and miserable.
I knew things needed to change but I didn’t know where to start. By trial and error, and a good deal of luck I gradually found the tools that have helped me to become more adaptable to change...ahhhh. I am now able to have peace and ease, even in life’s more chaotic moments. I can't express enough how everything shifted for me and brought with it a freedom I had never known. If you are craving this same peace of mind here are a few of my go-to strategies to start with.
At times my life felt like a house of cards, one small gust of wind could knock everything down… this was exhausting, unsustainable and clearly bad for my health. As a result, I was experiencing chronic insomnia and severe headaches every day! In this state of hyper stress, I was definitely not the mom, friend, sister, or spouse that I wanted to be. There is no doubt that if I had stayed on that path I would have become increasingly more unhealthy and miserable.
I knew things needed to change but I didn’t know where to start. By trial and error, and a good deal of luck I gradually found the tools that have helped me to become more adaptable to change...ahhhh. I am now able to have peace and ease, even in life’s more chaotic moments. I can't express enough how everything shifted for me and brought with it a freedom I had never known. If you are craving this same peace of mind here are a few of my go-to strategies to start with.
| Say goodbye to expectations
The minute we cling to the idea that our happiness is based on a particular outcome we've handed over our experience of life to forces outside of our control. The more flexible you are (in thought and actions) the more you are able to create the experience you want in any moment.
The minute we cling to the idea that our happiness is based on a particular outcome we've handed over our experience of life to forces outside of our control. The more flexible you are (in thought and actions) the more you are able to create the experience you want in any moment.
| Try something new that pushes your boundaries
If we stay in the same old patterns we are not giving ourselves the chance to see what is possible. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
If we stay in the same old patterns we are not giving ourselves the chance to see what is possible. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Yoga (This practice has been life changing for me)
- Take a writing or journaling class
- Organize a book group
- Have coffee with a new acquaintance
| Upgrade your diet
What you eat affects EVERYTHING! Not just your outward appearance but your mental and emotional health as well. Reducing refined sugars and processed foods and adding in whole foods will help improve your resistance to stress and increase your mental clarity.
What you eat affects EVERYTHING! Not just your outward appearance but your mental and emotional health as well. Reducing refined sugars and processed foods and adding in whole foods will help improve your resistance to stress and increase your mental clarity.
| Focus on the solution instead of the problem.
It’s easy to get stuck on the problem. If you notice your mind spinning on what’s going wrong, break that cycle by asking a question that shifts your focus to a solution. For instance: You’re stuck in traffic and late for work, you can’t make the traffic go any faster so ask “What can I do?” The answer may be to call work and let them know you’ll be late. You may also realize that arriving to work feeling rushed will make your whole day feel stressed. As a solution, you might turn off the news and turn on music you enjoy so you feel more relaxed and ready to face the demands of the day.
It’s easy to get stuck on the problem. If you notice your mind spinning on what’s going wrong, break that cycle by asking a question that shifts your focus to a solution. For instance: You’re stuck in traffic and late for work, you can’t make the traffic go any faster so ask “What can I do?” The answer may be to call work and let them know you’ll be late. You may also realize that arriving to work feeling rushed will make your whole day feel stressed. As a solution, you might turn off the news and turn on music you enjoy so you feel more relaxed and ready to face the demands of the day.
Building your mental flexibility can be life changing, and the best part is that anyone can learn how to do it!
Enjoy!
Janna
Janna
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