Answer yes or no to the following statements. I almost always manage to:
- Focus my attention on the present moment: YES / NO
- Don’t constantly dwell on difficult situations: YES / NO
- Accept both positive and negative events: YES / NO
- Putting my difficulties into perspective: YES / NO
- Not losing sight of my goals and my deep values, even in the face of adversity: YES / NO
Did you get only “yes” answers? This indicates that you have a flexible mind.
You react less negatively in challenging situations, such as working in a noisy environment. According to a large British review study, mentally flexible people experience less stress regarding their educational environment and have better relationships with their partners and children.
Psychological rigidity hinders good relationships and also makes you critical of your own negative thoughts and feelings. This is doubly embarrassing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness can help you increase your mental agility and better manage difficult emotions and situations.