Flexible Thinking

Flexible thinking is a lifelong skill that will help you manage uncertainty and overcome problems when things change. To be a flexible thinker, we need to be able to adapt our thoughts and approaches in response to new information

Throughout the sessions in TOPS-UK, we encourage you to try different ways of solving problems and help you to evaluate how well they work for you.

Here are some strategies to help develop flexibility in thinking:

1. Accept Change: Change is a natural and unavoidable part of life that can bring exciting new opportunities.
2. Validate your feelings: Acknowledge how something has made you feel. Uncertainty or change can be worrying and frustrating. Most people find it difficult to manage change so be kind to yourself. 
3. Be Curious: Ask questions and try new things. Curiosity can help you see things differently.
4. Learn from Others: Talk to people who may have different ideas. Maybe you will learn or understand something new. 
5. Consider Alternative Perspectives: Challenge yourself to look at a situation in a different way. Is there another way to think about the situation? 
6. Ask for Advice: With someone you trust, talk through a difficult situation. They may be able to help you see where flexibility would have helped you.
7. Limit Assumptions: Avoid making snap judgments or assumptions based on your first instinct. Acknowledge these thoughts but remember they might not be true and you might change your mind. 
8. Reflect on Past Experiences: Can you think of a time where being flexible helped you succeed or enjoy something more? Or perhaps a more general example of when flexibility would help you? Think of a time when you tried something new or changed a plan and it went really well. This could be when your friends decided to go to a different restaurant for dinner and whilst you were upset the food turned out to be amazing! 
9. Explore and Discover: Read books, magazines or articles, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries and look for information on a variety of topics. This will help you see how other people view the world, giving you the opportunity to explore new ideas and ways of thinking.
10. Practice Flexibility: Play a game like scrabble or dobble where you have to think quickly. Or maybe change one thing about your day – brush your hair with your non-dominant hand, or try something new.
11. Stay Positive and Use Mindfulness: When you notice yourself becoming stressed about something changing take a second and breathe. Being aware of what you are thinking in these moments can help you figure out when flexibility would help you.

By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can enhance your ability to think flexibly. More flexibility will help you be more resilient and effective in problem-solving.

How could you fit these strategies into your everyday life?

Which strategy will you try first?