Considering the qualities of man, one of the most important of them is thinking. Indeed, it is thanks to him that people solve the tasks facing them and cope with the problems that arise.
Thinking is logical and critical, analytical, creative, abstract, and sometimes flexible. The last of these species is very useful for humans. After all, having the flexibility of the mind, living in this world is much easier. Such a characteristic of thinking will allow one to gain the ability to adapt to absolutely any conditions and begin to benefit even from those situations that seem extremely unfavorable.
In order to verify this, it is worth studying the stories of successful people. All of them, to one degree or another, have the flexibility of the mind. This allows all the activities of these people to be incredibly effective. So the flexibility of the mind is a really useful skill that should be learned in order to start making logical conclusions and conclusions from your reasoning faster.
Definition of a concept
In psychology, the flexibility of the mind is the ability of a person to reconsider his decisions and conclusions when conditions change. In addition, this concept means the absence of any patterns used in solving life problems, as well as biased opinions.
People who lack such qualities are characterized by inertia of the mind. They think and act only on the model and are afraid of everything new.
In order to finally understand what is the flexibility of the mind, it is necessary to consider how it is expressed in humans. After all, if a person is able to reasonably approach life, then this will certainly affect the way of thinking.
Moreover, the flexibility of thinking is also the ability of a person to clearly see the current situation, as well as to predict its further development. What are the signs of a similar characteristic in humans?
Alternative
This concept means the ability of an individual to make a choice between several options. The alternative, as a rule, occurs in people with a high level of development of thinking. After all, a person needs not just to make one or another decision, but to justify his own conscience before his own conscience, having seen additional opportunities.
Under any circumstances, a person must remember that an alternative always exists. That is why at the first failure you can not give up and despair. With this approach, nothing substantial can be achieved in life.
To cope with a difficult situation is often possible when looking for an answer within yourself. This will allow you to decide on the most significant opportunities and prospects. The flexibility of the mind in this case will be needed to determine the most suitable solution to the problem. As a rule, people learn this on the basis of their life experience.
Acceptance of responsibility
Unfortunately, not every person is capable of this. The reasons lie in those factors that contribute to the formation of a person’s irresponsibility and mental relaxation. The individual gets used to the fact that he tries not to pay attention to what is happening with him. Of course, living this way is much easier. After all, there is no need to make any efforts when it is necessary to carry out important actions. However, it should be borne in mind that a person running away from his essence will never be happy. It is like a detachment from one’s own feelings when one doesn’t even have time to define and recognize them.
When taking full responsibility, a person must have the ability to admit his mistakes. This is a demonstration of the flexibility of the mind. It is worth noting that people who have learned to overcome difficulties encountered on their way note that it was precisely the acceptance of responsibility that allowed them to do this.
Attention switching
A person who concentrates on a particular thought for a long time becomes focused. This is a condition when a certain situation constantly scrolls in your head, which allows you to quickly come to an optimal solution and find the right answer. Sometimes his own vision of the problem facing the individual turns his mind around, and he begins to strive to obtain a specific result. What will be the final choice of the solution option, depends on the worldview of the individual and on the system of internal beliefs that she has. However, if you focus on one problem for a very long time, this can lead to apathy. The flexibility of thinking in this case is manifested in the person’s ability to switch, shifting attention from one thought to another. This skill is very useful. It can always come in handy. After all, any new initiative will necessarily require patience, perseverance and mental strength. The flexibility of the mind at the same time allows you to protect yourself from additional experiences and not feel like an ordinary loser.
Creative method
The manifestation of creativity in a person should be present in everything. And this is impossible without the use of internal creative resources. If this is not the case, then the energy of the personality will gradually fade away, and in the end it will become simply impossible to apply it.
Our life is such that everyday life from time to time throw up various surprises to a person. If these accidents are taken by surprise, then they can confuse us. The flexibility of the mind will prevent this. In this case, it will be expressed in a creative approach to the problem, which will allow you to resolve issues in the shortest possible time.
Accepting another person's point of view
For us, this is perhaps the most difficult. After all, people are arranged in such a way that in all situations they consider themselves only right. Such a worldview is associated with the internal nature of man, which includes the action of natural defense mechanisms. All this allows the individual to avoid any troubles that arise in his way. Flexibility of thinking is what allows you to see the situation as if from the inside. In this case, a person begins to turn to the origins of the existing problem.
Mental operations
What determines the flexibility of the mind? From his mental operations. They include comparison, contrasting, as well as synthesis and analysis, concretization and abstraction, systematization and generalization. These elements are considered single, paired and reversible.
Consider the features of mental operations:
- Comparison A similar operation is to establish differences or similarities in the objects of thinking. When comparing, a person discovers certain essential properties of phenomena and objects. According to some researchers, this is the most significant aspect of thinking. Examining objects from different points of view, a person gets the opportunity to compare and contrast their qualities in unusual, new circumstances.
- Analysis. By this process is meant the mental division of a phenomenon or object into its constituent parts. Analysis helps us in our quest for a deeper understanding of the subject. This requires the study of each of its parts separately. Analysis of the object may be distracting. It is carried out to identify the essence of a phenomenon or object.
- Synthesis. In contrast to analysis, this process allows you to compose a single whole from separate parts. What exactly needs to be combined can be said far from always. And here you can find a close relationship between synthesis and analysis. Indeed, in order to combine something, sometimes it is necessary to understand what can constitute a single whole.
- Generalization. This process means reducing something private to the general. The generalization follows the analysis of the material and the allocation of the properties of individual parts by comparing them. After this, it becomes possible to determine the main and the general that is characteristic of objects that are the material of thinking.
- Abstraction. A similar process means the distraction of thinking from the specific sensory-figurative properties of the chosen object or phenomenon. It is possible only after a person excludes all non-essential, particular and random.
Developing mindset
So, we have already realized the need for such a characteristic in our lives. But how to develop the flexibility of the mind? Most often, this process begins with the development of genuine self-esteem. An original approach to this matter will also be useful. All this will allow the individual to demonstrate his viability, having earned respect for himself. In the eyes of others, the adoption of such a decision will also add strength and make it possible to feel significant and self-sufficient. What is good for the mind and how to develop its flexibility? Let's look into this issue.
Get rid of fears
A variety of phobias always prevent a person from moving forward. Fears limit us so much that they contribute to the creation of some kind of internal framework, which is very difficult to break out of. It is also worth remembering that anxieties and doubts always play a negative role and are capable of ruining any undertaking already in the bud. If a person experiences strong fear, then he will certainly abandon any prospect. That is why in order to achieve the desired goal, you need to stop being afraid. Only in this case will the flexibility of thinking, which will achieve significant results in life. A person will begin to think constructively and will direct his mind towards creation.
Start experimenting
The life of the vast majority of people is very limited by the framework of invented stereotypes, which they simply cannot decide to go beyond. This greatly impoverishes their existence. Any action aimed at development, in this case, will be very difficult for a person. He just needs to experiment, which will not stop at the result.
Sometimes it’s very sad to watch those people who give up halfway before they have started their business properly. Those who have taken the first, albeit timid step, should not stop. A steady advance should be continued, which will allow us to come to the intended goal.
Of course, the opportunity to conduct one’s own experiments is provided to a person not always and not everywhere. But this does not mean at all that he cannot take a closer look at the situation that has arisen and draw appropriate conclusions from this. The development of flexibility of thinking is not an easy task. It must be solved gradually.
Going beyond
A similar process is a rejection of stereotypes. To do this in most cases is not so simple. After all, when people are required to make any non-standard decisions, they begin to feel limited and constrained. Going beyond the existing framework means the manifestation of the flexibility of thinking. In this case, you will have to learn something unknown, begin to master new behaviors, and also come to grips with your own fear. With the right setting of tasks, a person is able to win this internal duel, which, first of all, implies the eradication of laziness. Getting rid of it, a person will be easier to make decisions. That is why the rejection of stereotypes will certainly help develop the flexibility of the mind.
Redefining Beliefs
Each person adheres to his life principles. They contribute to the adoption of responsible decisions, indicating the direction of movement. In order to develop the flexibility of thinking, it will be necessary to begin to show great loyalty to certain things. And to do this will allow an alternative vision of the world. The rapid achievement of this goal is impossible. Sometimes a person needs a lot of patience and time to start thinking immediately in any situation, and only then to do it.
To cultivate the flexibility of thinking in yourself, you need to train a lot, while reviewing the most significant beliefs for yourself. All this will allow a little distraction from the problem in order to begin to search for optimal solutions. Passing difficulties incredibly tempers a person, especially if he himself was able to find a way out of a predicament. A large role is assigned to changing habits. Such a move is capable of performing real miracles.
Develop individuality
Not many people are guided only by their own desires and opinions. In order to develop individuality, a person will need to start living in harmony with his mission and conscience. This leads to the need to find your favorite business. The chosen occupation will allow you to become the master of your existence. Achieving such a goal is facilitated by creative activities, which should certainly be liked and bring tangible benefits.
In addition to changing the inner vision of life, gymnastics for the mind is recommended. She is able to develop his flexibility, just as physical exercise strengthens our body. It takes only a few minutes a day to exercise the flexibility of the mind. They represent the practice of very simple strategies that facilitate the interaction of the left and right hemispheres of our brain. This leads to the creation of new connections between neurons and gradually increases the flexibility of the mind as a whole. Does the person need such exercises or not? In order to determine the answer, it is enough to pass any test on the flexibility of thinking. Answers to the proposed questions will allow you to check the originality of thinking. But when solving the test for the flexibility of the mind, one should not immediately give up and open the correct answer. It’s worth considering, but you need to do this without particularly much thought.
How to do gymnastics for the mind?
Dress and undress, eyes closed
A similar exercise is performed once during the day. At first glance, such a task may seem rather stupid.
However, its implementation contributes to:
- improved coordination of movement;
- enhancing the relationship between the left and right hemispheres of the brain;
- development of fine motor skills.
Using Mental Maps
The British scientist Tony Busan has developed a fairly simple, but at the same time effective tool that helps release the creative potential of man. Inspired by the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, he created mental maps. Today, they are often included in the curriculum of many courses, and various companies and institutions also use them to solve their problems.
Mental maps can be used for planning a career or leisure, while preparing for meetings, presentations, etc. But the most valuable quality of this tool is that with its regular use, the brain learns to use two hemispheres at once, which develops its flexibility .
How does it work? Suppose you have received an assignment that consists in writing a review of the last of the films watched. How will our brain begin to work on this task? Are we going to write, sequentially listing the most important points? Most probably not. As a rule, the images, keywords and impressions of the film will soar freely in the viewer's head, eventually connecting with each other. A mental map is a method that displays this process on paper. It is a graphic expression of those patterns of thinking that are natural to humans.
As you know, the creative process requires a balance between the production of ideas and their organization. This will allow timely selection of the most feasible and creative thoughts. However, most people suffer from the fact that they try to immediately organize their ideas, which is at the expense of others. The use of mental cards is designed to free a person from such a dictate. They allow you to organize all the key concepts related to a particular topic in such a way as to enable the search for associations. This is what allows a person to become creative, and to think more flexible.
Definition of exact and approximate values
There are also mind-bending games. But it is worth bearing in mind that improving thinking will require certain volitional efforts. And even if using the simulator for the mind seems like nothing more than an interesting pastime, then in this case the benefit from these activities will certainly be obtained.
For the development of the brain, it will be necessary to disrupt its usual rhythm and provide it with new stimuli. The game will help to do this by determining the exact and approximate values. It should be a daily task, the implementation of which will require attention, calculation and counting. For example, how many stairs are there in your office? And how many people in black clothes were on the bus today? How much do the last two digits of the number of a passing car give?
Studying of foreign language
What else can be done to develop the flexibility of the mind?Learning 3-5 new foreign words per day will help this process. In this case, it does not matter which language you choose. Such classes contribute to an increase in linguistic potential and broadening one's horizons. At the same time, the formation of new neural tissues - an excellent cognitive reserve, which in the future will help a person with dignity to transfer age-related changes in the body.
Puzzle solving
How over the years to constantly maintain in good shape your mental activity? There are puzzles for adults to do this. They represent logic problems, as well as intricate, funny, or difficult questions.
In order to solve puzzles for adults, a person will not need a high level of education. At the same time, such a process will be an excellent training of ingenuity and will bring the joy of achievement. Solving puzzles for adults, you will need to apply innovative thinking. This will give a wonderful impetus to the improvement of intellectual development. Subsequently, a person will begin to quickly find the optimal solution in non-standard everyday situations.
Where to find puzzles for mind flexibility? In books on this subject a lot of them are presented. Such literature contains many fascinating puzzles and charades, the latest tests and logical tasks. One of these collections is Philip Carter’s book, Develop Intelligence. There are also many other similar publications. All of them are intended for readers of various ages and allow you to activate the brain.