Thinking Differently To Live Differently

Thinking differently leads to living differently. People often become entrenched in fixed mental focuses and become stubborn, inflexible soldiers. Thus, and almost without knowing it, they stop finding new solutions to problems, solutions to disappointments and perspectives in the face of daily challenges. Thinking differently is not easy, but it can be the difference between well-being and suffering.

What prevents you from thinking in a faster, more original and even healthier way? One of the most prominent figures in psychology who studied this subject was Abraham Luchins.

In 1942 he published an experiment entitled ” Water Jug Problem ” in which he showed that our most important problems are mental rigidity, prejudice and even fear.

People fear what is new. People tend to be insecure when it comes to changing behavior and introducing new things into their routine. The challenge is to re-evaluate approaches and disable old inherited thought patterns. Furthermore , they need to discover the defense mechanisms they use on a daily basis, and which they are usually not aware of.

According to Luchins, the strategy for improving these realities would be neither more nor less than the use of more flexible thinking. Mainly to be able to adapt to an ever-changing environment that is becoming increasingly demanding.

Thinking differently to live differently – how do I do it?

Everyone has the ability to perceive the same things: the sound of a storm approaching, the smell of wet soil, the rain hitting the windows, and so on.

Despite the fact that all people can perceive the same stimuli, each of them also interprets it in their own way. In other words, according to experience, personality, education, environment, mood, preferences and aversions.

While some are uncomfortable being near a storm, others like it. There is no major problem in this, each person has their own peculiarities that allow them to filter and understand reality in one way or another.

The central problem is that the special way of treating what surrounds them and what happens sometimes goes through a blanket of negativity and defenselessness. Also through the mental rigidity where they can only see the darkness at the end of the tunnel.

So how can you start thinking differently to live differently? How to do it when your thoughts arise automatically and in many cases are conveyed by your emotions? Keep reading to find out!

Elastic thinking

Dr. Abraham Luchins foresaw the need to develop a different type of mental approach as early as the 1940s. One that allows people to survive and respond to a changing environment full of stimuli.

In addition, Leonard Mlodinow, a famous physicist and mathematician, introduced a concept of great interest in psychology a few years ago. He referred to it as “elastic thinking”.

Mlodinow collaborated with Stephen Hawking in several of his books. In fact, he is still one of the most interesting scientific communicators. His contribution to elastic thinking is a direct invitation to think differently, and not just to live better. Thinking differently can also contribute to your happiness and even to the progress of society.

This idea is based on the following pillars:

• You need to stop taking things for granted. Comfortable ideas are stunning. Thus, it is time to take a critical look. One that is sharp and will not lead to simple answers.
• It is also time to start doing something that is very difficult: to tolerate ambiguity, uncertainty and even contradictions.

• You need to rise above the more conventional mindsets.
• Finally, you need to rely on both logic and lateral thinking, the kind that invites you to innovate.

Elastic thinking does not fear the new and accepts uncertainty. You know and understand that the changes are constant. You not only have to adapt to them, you have to take advantage of them.

Thinking differently forces you to discover useless thoughts and opens your eyes

You need to be flexible to respond effectively to your daily challenges. Everyone wants to use this type of approach, as healthy as the elastic thinking is, to respond more innovatively to the future that lies ahead. However, there is another thing you need to consider.

Countless unhelpful and even harmful thoughts are in your mind. Especially those who negatively feed your inner dialogue. The same people who tell you things like ” You are useless and will never get over this “, ” Things only get worse and there is nothing you can do about it “, or ” Taking risks is pointless, just be in your comfort zone.”

Your inner dialogue will be much healthier, even enriching, if you purify the stream of limiting thoughts that live in your mind. Only then will you allow yourself to think differently by making some space for your inner elastic thoughts. Those who are able to see valuable opportunities in every change.

The mind and brain must also change and adapt to the new times. This requires constant work and a firm commitment to yourself. Are you ready?