If something characterizes the human mind, it is its ability to adapt to the environment. Unlike what happens with most other animal species, our behavior is much more marked by the way in which we decide to learn to act than by the actions genetically encoded in our DNA. That is: the human being is characterized by his creativity, the freedom with which he chooses to take totally original routes of thought.
However, in our daily lives This creative potential is not always being exploited to the fullest There are many psychological factors that limit it and that, if we are able to neutralize them, will leave behind all that breadth of thought and mental flexibility that our brain entails and that, in some cases, we did not know we had.
That is why it is practical to review our psychological habits and identify those ways of thinking that limit our imagination and reduce their reach.
The first thing to keep in mind when understanding why there are some ways of thinking that limit the possible mental routes among which we choose is that the human brain, despite having an incredible number of neurons (more than 80 one billion of them in an adult) has limited resources to carry out its actions.
And yes, thinking is also one of those psychological functions carried out by the brain, since it does not exist outside our body. Here we are not talking about using 100% of our brain (something we already do constantly, despite what the myth of 10% of the mind indicates), but about managing well the biological resources of our nervous system that are already being used.
Thus, we must choose the mental habits that best allow us to exploit the limited amount of resources in our brain when it comes to thinking. guide you towards thinking that is as broad, flexible and creative as possible And, to do so, you must first identify those thought patterns that limit this flexibility. The main ones are the following.
1. Procrastination
The term procrastination is usually familiar to very few people, but almost everyone knows its other name: the “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome.. It is a way of thinking that leads us to constantly look for excuses to postpone challenges However, the striking thing about procrastination is that it does not appear only when we have to face complex problems; It can also stop us from carrying out simple tasks, such as hanging clothes or considering creative solutions to a situation to be resolved.
This is what makes the “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome so limit our way of thinking; Every time we reach a point where a certain mental flexibility is required of us, the anticipation of this small effort can cause this task to be postponed, allowing us to continue in that easy state in which our thinking follows the rails of habit. And of course, by postponing creative thinking, the chances that we end up not facing that small challenge greatly increase.
2. Rumination
Rumination is a thought pattern that consists of entering a loop of obsessive ideas from which it is difficult for us to get out. For example, if something we have done recently embarrasses us a lot, it is possible that, whatever we do, every thought ends up leading to the memory of us making a fool of ourselves in front of others, which leads us to continue worrying about that incident and, As a consequence, it predisposes us even more to evoke that experience again in the future.
Rumination works in a relatively simple way: the more we think about an idea, image or memory, the more likely it is that, automatically and without intending it, that mental content will re-assault our consciousness. This not only leads to an increase in anxiety, but also limits creativity, since it ties us to anguish and the anticipated fear of “awakening” that memory again.
3. Excessive perfectionism
Many times perfectionism, far from being something that pushes us to constantly improve, prevents us from taking the first steps necessary to progress. If before starting a project that will require broad thinking and a good dose of creativity, you realize that you spend a lot of time worrying about the blow to your self-esteem that could result in failure, it is possible that this psychological habit is acting as an anchor
4. Analysis paralysis
Analysis paralysis is a mental block that keeps us anchored in the decision-making phase What characterizes this pattern of thinking is that it is often not perceived as a problem, since the time spent choosing the best of the possible options is not seen as a break, but as a need to ensure success by choosing what is best. it suits us.
That is to say, analysis paralysis is a kind of perfectionism fixed in the choice phase. We give up choosing one of the options offered to us because, in some way, we are afraid of the possibility of failure; That is why we prefer to stay in a previous phase in which we can fantasize about success.
Blaming others and the environment for everything bad that happens to us is a sure way to stay where we are Of course, it is not unreasonable that many of our problems are the fault of others, but if we focus all our attention only on the responsibilities of others we will lose sight of the range of options from which we can choose.
6. Constant search for new stimuli
The fact of knowing everything about what the future holds for us or what we must do to reach our goals makes many people give in again and again to distractions, in the hope of coming into contact with valuable ideas or with inspiration elements. That is to say, there are no references or where to start learning or training.
