Rigid Thinking: The Prison of Our Minds

How Rigid Thinking Limits Us and Prevents Us from Living the Life We Want

Do you feel stuck? Unable to move forward in life? So caught up in thinking about the past or worrying about the future that you forget to live in the present? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a victim of rigid thinking.

What is Rigid Thinking?

Rigid thinking is like being trapped in a small box. There are four walls surrounding you, limiting your movement. Each wall represents a different aspect of rigid thinking:

• Time Travel: You find yourself trapped in thoughts about the past, regretting mistakes or imagining negative future scenarios.
• Judgment and Criticism: You compare yourself to others and criticize yourself for every little thing. You experience feelings of inadequacy and self-deprecation, believing you're not good enough.
• Reasons and Excuses: You find excuses to avoid doing things you want or need to do.
• Rules and Assumptions: You believe there's only one "right" way to do things, and you cling to it at all costs.

These Walls Prevent You From Living a Full Life.

When you're trapped inside this box, you miss out on so much. You miss the opportunity to experience moments of happiness, meet new people, learn new things, and grow. You miss the opportunity to be the person you truly want to be.

How Can You Get Out of the Box?

The good news is that you don't have to stay trapped in the box. There's a way out to start living a freer and more meaningful life. There are three main ways to think about the world:

• Living in the box: These are people who believe in the rules of rigid thinking and accept the limitations they impose on themselves.
• Living outside the box: These are people who have realized that rigid thinking limits them and have decided to break free. However, they still carry the box with them as a reference point and constantly seek external validation.
• Living without a box: These are people who have realized that there is no box at all. They live their lives according to their inner values, without needing external validation.

Our Goal is to Reach the Third Stage.

To reach the third stage, we must learn to recognize and accept the existence of our rigid thoughts but treat them as suggestions rather than commands. Moving to the third stage allows us to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, regardless of our circumstances. We must learn to be more flexible, accept uncertainty, and learn to live in the present.

How Can We Do That?

There are many techniques you can use to develop flexible thinking. Two particularly effective therapeutic approaches are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps us identify and challenge negative thoughts and replace them with more positive ones.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT teaches us to accept our thoughts and feelings without judgment and to focus on actions that will help us live a meaningful life.

Conclusion

Rigid thinking is like a prison that limits us and prevents us from living a full life. But there is hope. By developing flexible thinking, we can break free from this prison and start living the life we truly want to live. If you feel stuck and want to make a change in your life, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.