Do you have a tendency to be rigid and inflexible by having high expectations and fixed beliefs and opinions? Do you strive for perfection and struggle to go with the flow?
Having high ideals and fixed ideas, no matter the topic, can create an uptight, judgmental attitude towards yourself, others and life. It can also create tension in the body and frustration when things don’t go the way you want them to.
“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach” -Tony Robbins
An Inflexible Mindset + Perfectionism
Inflexible people think a certain way about things and have a difficult time seeing other people’s point of view, typically rejecting ideas that go against their preferences. Often, they don’t even know they’re doing it. On a more positive note, having high standards can help you set goals, achieve ambitions, keep a tidy home and take good care of yourself. It’s more about the mindset you have in going about these things. If you’re being self critical, listening to negative self-talk and beating yourself up about things on a regular basis, that’s when it starts to become a problem. This can be a very difficult way to live for yourself and for those around you, and is a big sign of perfectionism. Setting unrealistic standards for yourself and others can be debilitating and greatly impact your emotional wellbeing.
A flexible mindset moves you away from limiting thought patterns and old habits to a place of newness and possibility. Having an open mind doesn’t mean you need to change your opinion, it means you’re willing to consider new ideas and being less fixed or rigid. Reducing perfectionism doesn’t mean lowering your standards, it’s about being more flexible about how you navigate your beliefs, thoughts and life. Creating more flexibility in your life can release the pressure valve and help you feel more relaxed and able to go with the flow.
“Don’t wish for things to happen the way you would like them to. Rather, welcome whatever happens. This is the path to peace, freedom, and happiness”- Epictetus
Self Care Tips for a More Flexible Mind
- Don’t fight against the unexpected and unwanted
- Be open to change/Adapt your thinking and behaviors
- Accept that people have their own way of looking at things
- Practice being more open minded
- Let go of a fixed agenda
- Challenge yourself to go with the flow
- Enjoy the process or journey instead of only focusing on the outcome
- Be spontaneous
- Practice Self Awareness and Self Compassion
- Practice gratitude–appreciating what you have makes it easier to cope when things don’t go your way
Transpersonal Energy Healing
This is one of the healing modalities I use to help my clients. Transpersonal Energy Healing is a combination of Body Mind Counseling and Hands on Healing. It helps to uncover limiting beliefs, release stored emotions in the body and balance and relax the energy and nervous systems.
Bach Flower Therapy
Try the Bach Flower Remedy Rock Water. This is another healing modality that I use to help my clients. I offer 1:1 sessions, but the Bach Flower Remedies were created as a self help system so anyone can access and use them with ease.
(Don’t know what Bach Flower Remedies are? Check out my 8 minute video What are Bach Flower Remedies?)
10 Journal Prompts To Help You Become More Open Minded + Reduce Perfectionism
- What topics are you very strict about with yourself and how can you be more flexible, so you can feel more relaxed?
- What topics are you very strict about with others and how can you be more flexible, so you can feel more relaxed?
- Does your lack of flexibility impact your relationships? How?
- How can you respond to your expectations, demands, and criticisms with understanding and compassion?
- What do you sacrifice because of perfectionism? Health, happiness, time, experiences, etc.?
- How is having high standards helpful for you?
- What are the benefits of not being a perfectionist?
- What’s one thing you can start with being less strict or close minded about?
- What would it feel like to be soft, open and curious in situations rather than having a fixed agenda?
- Where in your life are you already comfortable going with the flow?
5 Affirmations To Repeat For a Flexible Mind
- “I am open to having a flexible mind”
- “I am able to go with the flow”
- “I am enough”
- “It’s healthy to relax and have fun”
- “I trust the process”
Being inflexible in your thinking and set in your ways is what causes unnecessary stress in the body, mind and spirit.
If this is a behavior that you would like to shift because it’s causing you stress and anxiety, try some of the suggestions above. Starting with self awareness will help you notice when you’re relentlessly putting excessive pressure on yourself. Again, having high standards is not the issue.
