There are many factors in life that are not in our control, like weather, politics, physical looks, birthplace, family, current affairs, people's actions and reactions, pandemics, seasons, day and night, death, etc.The key to becoming mentally flexible is our actions and response.There's a space between the two.Our power is in that space.In our response lies growth and freedom.The guidelines aim to bring a shift from where a true flexible behavior starts.If this seems like it can be helpful to you, then you should move to Step #1.
Step 1: There is constant change in this world.
Things may change slowly or suddenly.The mountains are old and erode wither.The stars, galaxies, and clusters come from where they came from.Same thing or condition that makes you happy will cause you pain as time passes or it disappears from your life.All forms are bound to the law and are fleeting.Change is part of life and can be hard for some people to accept.Accepting this fact is the first step in the journey towards mental flexibility.
Step 2: There's a bright side.
If a change makes you uncertain or resistant, then take a few breaths and ask yourself if there is anything you can do about it.Is this in my control?Is there a bright side to it?Also, etc.Being aware of why you oppose the change.Suppose your best friend is getting married and you are resisting it because you don't want to see her a lot.Fear and self-interest are behind this.If you don't accept the change, you may end up creating suffering for yourself and others.When you accept a change, you see the bright side and what action to take more clearly.This action is in alignment with universal intelligence because it arises out of non-resistance rather than a limited conditioned mind.For more depth, read Surrender to the Present Moment.The bright side may not be visible immediately.A friend getting married can be seen as motivation to find someone for yourself.Right?"Behind every seemingly bad situation lies concealed a deeper good, which reveals itself to you only through inner acceptance of what is", says Eckhart Tolle.
Step 3: Consider an example.
If you had to move to another city for a job, you would have a lot of questions such as "Where am I going to stay?" and "What will I do for food?"The mind's conditioned reactions and thoughts are based on the past.You need to look at the other side of the coin if you want to gather information.The new and current cities would have similar things such as variety of people, restaurants, grocery stores, places to visit, parks, amusements, events and so forth.There is a chance that the new city may have quirks and places that are better than the last one.You don't know what you will end up liking unless you try new things.The location and cuisine of the restaurants may be different, but that doesn't mean the food will be bad.Moving to a new city can be seen as an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people.There won't be enough opportunities to meet new people in the new city because the number of people may differ from the last.People.Humans are complex and challenging to go deeper.Different people have different things, but that doesn't mean they're not human beings.Most people are governed by Ego, which is impersonal.On the surface, the stories, beliefs and personality, which are ultimately bundle of thoughts, that the Ego identifies with may seem different but the underlying energy is of the ego that lives on comparison, conflicts, negativity, wanting, resistance etc.We like to stick with people we know because they give us a sense of familiarity.It is dangerous to the mind to be unknown.A lot of implicit and explicit biases are created by this.It's like denying the truth that we may end up liking people we don't know.You can try a lot of new things if you have some common sense and intelligence.Like visiting new areas in town and trying a new cuisine.
Step 4: Make it fun and silly.
Making things silly, fun, and lighthearted with common sense is what this means.If you fail a test, make the situation fun by sharing it with your friends, for example, "My teacher returned my test paper with a McDonald's job application."It corresponds with your humor.This therapy will help you in the long run.You can have fun with most situations if you have common sense.'Don't take life too seriously' is a cliche.It is a form of acceptance to make it fun.
Step 5: The things that are under your direct influence should be worked on.
You don't have control over weather, political situations, wars, pandemics, conflicts, your physical appearance or people's reactions.Your conditioned mental reactions and thoughts are not in your control.For more depth, read Dissolve the Ego.If you worry about them, you will suffer.Which will keep the situation in place.Our direct influence points to things that are direct control.Making a cup of coffee, studying hard for a test, exercising, grooming, practicing good hygiene are some examples.You can point to things like your grade on a test or the taste of a coffee that are in your indirect influence.'No control' refers to things that are not in your control in any way, shape, or form, like someone else's test grade, weather, politics, natural disasters, and pandemics.You should only work on things that are in your control.
Step 6: Understand the paradigms you have.
A lens through which you see the world is called a paradigm.The majority of people see, analyze and judge things on the surface through limited conditioned mind.Ignore the underlying interconnectedness of all things.It's like fixing the symptoms of a problem rather than knowing where the problem came from.People don't realize the deeper connection of all things.
Step 7: It's a experiment.
Work out, brush teeth, shower, breakfast, and so on.The quality of your day can be observed.Your'state of consciousness' is what determines the quality of your actions and responses.If you want to observe the quality of your day and state of consciousness on the following day, skip some activities in the morning.The quality of your actions on the first day will most likely be higher than the second day.These activities bring about a shift in consciousness and the actions that arise out of that shift have a high quality.It's similar to the state of consciousness from where the actions or words are high quality.You don't have to deal with the symptoms of those actions in the long run.For the sake of example, we are not taking into account your life situation which may affect your state of consciousness.
Step 8: Things are interdependent on an individual level.
It is possible that you will be mentally flexible as well if you are physically flexible.It's easier to see the interconnectedness between things once you integrate the concept of flexibility in one arena.There are people who are mentally flexible but not physically flexible.They don't realize the deeper connection between different domains of life.Have you noticed that when you feel frustrated in one aspect of your life, it's most likely that you'll feel the same way in other areas?It's because frustration is within and not out there.It trickles into other aspects of your life.Why not take advantage of it?If you want to change the habit of taking things easy, you have to consciously practice it in all aspects of your life.For example, doing your work in an easy going manner, talking to people light-heartedly, reading light and funny content, watching light hearted or funny shows and movies, fun hobbies and so on.This will help you realize the interconnectedness of your life and accelerate your progress towards mental flexibility.It helps to start with a small aspect.If you want to write a book, you should start with writing articles, posts, and short stories.Writing is the underlying commonality between these activities.
Step 9: A balance can be found.
A balance between underlying and outlying elements is the most effective.If you consider yourself to be a smart person, but don't have the necessary skill set to express that intelligence, your skill or talent might never be known by others and enhance their life.After a number of changes, effective balance is achieved.Since everyone is different, this number may vary from person to person on the basis of their personality.It's not always a good idea to compare yourself with others, as you may not have gone through the same experiences, situations, upbringing, etc.As them.It's possible to get motivation from it.In the last step, you will read it.
Step 10: Be alert.
Awareness is the main factor in dissolving negative beliefs that have been running your life.Without any mental interpretation, a new consciousness emerges through you that is infinitely more powerful than thinking.If you allow or accept your negative, repetitive and self-limiting beliefs to be there, they will naturally be dissolved.If you want to get more insight, you should read Dissolve the Ego.
Step 11: There is evidence to collect.
Suppose you have a belief that people don't appreciate you or that no one likes you.Since most of our minds are evidence-driven, we should put our beliefs to the test by being aware to gather evidence.The non-supporting evidence helps remove the false and self-limiting beliefs.Your mind may see what you want it to see.There is a disease called scotoma.You may not be able to see the true validity of the beliefs.There is a need for honesty, open mindedness and a high degree of awareness.Put the article to the test and don't just accept or reject what's written.
Step 12: Dis identify from the ego.
Some people have different definitions of the word 'ego'.You probably come to interpretations of the word 'ego' which are different from others.The ego arises when people think they are superior or inferior to others because of their conditioning and limited knowledge.A false sense of "I know" is given by these narrow interpretations.They think they have sole possession of truth and can use it against anyone who isn't in alignment with it.What is the truth for them?They identify with a group of words.Many "spiritual" people who judge others through their spiritual beliefs are no more than a bunch of thoughts they identify with.It is said that Ego is mostly identification with thought forms.Conflicts, violence, and wars are usually the result of this.Conflict and division are needed to ensure Ego's survival.Dis-identifying from ego means relinquishing all mental positions and just observing or being aware without adding any mental interpretation to anything.True interpretation comes from non-conceptual or unconditioned universal intelligence.Awareness is a different aspect of consciousness that is not part of thinking.We talked about this earlier.Is it possible to step back from your own mind and understand all things?There is a person named Tao Te Ching.Be aware that your interpretation of the phrase 'be aware and allow it to be' could be ego.Your mind may ask, "So how can I be aware and allow it to be?"You can come up with a mental interpretation or concept on the basis of the past.That is all mind knows and is familiar with.The clever mind has a new concept to identify with.Concepts and thoughts can never be the absolute truth but they can point it out.Truth is not a concept or words.Everything else is a bad translation, because stillness is the language that God speaks.There is a person named Rumi.It's okay to use concepts during your journey, but don't get lost or identified with them as they are not more than a means to an end.Buddha said that pointing to the moon is not a conceptual intelligence.Stay Rooted in Being will give you more depth on this.Similar to a dog that is still looking at your hand after throwing a ball, you can look at concepts or pointers.He is being pointed to the direction where the ball went.
Step 13: Bring a paradigm shift to your mind.
The patterns from the culture you were born in have been adopted by your mind.Failure and rejections are frowned upon in most societies.Isn't it true that failures help people achieve their greatest accomplishments?Do you think failure should be seen as negative or not?If you don't see failure as negative or something that should not happen, it can become your great teacher.Failure is concealed in every success and success.When you experience a failure or fear of failure, ask yourself "What's the worst that could happen?"Is it an opportunity for something new?What can I learn from this?Also, etc.Make the situation fun and silly by telling the truth.If you see a hot girl walking by and you want to approach her, but you are afraid of rejection, butterflies, or anxiety, then first admit that you're a wimp and see this fear as a cue.When fear arises, immediately replace fearful thoughts with action such as "I deserve it", " I am worthy" etc.This reconditions your mind to see fear as a challenge and cue to take action or change narration instead of labeling it as bad and/or dwelling on it.Which keeps the bad situation in place.Taking action or changing narration can help reduce fear's intensity.Why?These practices help shift attention from mind to Now, which leads to a conscious shift within you.You can see how suffering becomes your teacher.You experience heavy emotions like anger, loneliness, and longing.Instead of dwelling and resisting them, use it as a 'cue' to take action and/or become present and accept them.Which is pointless anyway.To see fear or any other negative emotion as a cue to take action or change the narration, there needs to be some degree of consciousness or awareness in you.You will either see or resist it.Which keeps the fear in place.Problems of the mind can't be solved at the level of mind.When a police officer is looking for a kidnapper, they use mind to get rid of fear.Use the interconnection if you want to Dissolve the Ego.You can deepen thiscue practice by applying it in different aspects of your life.You can use the feeling you get before running or working out as a cue to start the routine.More you will think, harder it will get because mind, which is limited and dysfunctional, will be ready with a bunch of conditioned reasons or excuses about why you can't take action.You can use the feeling you get before waking up in the morning as a cue to wake up right away, instead of fighting it.Fighting and resistance make the negative emotions stronger and keep them in place."Wherever you resist, persists" Zen said.You can apply it to other aspects of your life as well.It may be difficult at first.When we overcome the initial resistance, not by fighting it but by becoming one with it, the path becomes easier.The going is easy once it is overcome.Depending on your degree of consciousness, taking action and changing the narration can be helpful.The most effective way to bring an inner shift is to realize that you are not your thoughts and emotions but the awareness behind them.Simply become aware and accept the thoughts and emotions that come with them.That's what brings an inner shift in you without any effort and helps you realize that you are aware of the content of your mind.If action or words are required, they arise from infinitely intelligent formless consciousness or awareness as intuitive responses.It is not necessary until you realize that."Scientist's religious feeling takes the form of rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural laws, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that in comparison with it, all systematic thinking of human being is an utterly insignificant reflection," Einstein said.The guiding principle of my work is this feeling.Accepting the thoughts, resistance and feelings that arise in the now is part of becoming aware.Acceptance helps you access the Power of Now by shifting attention from mind to body.It's easier to see what action is required.Surrender to the Present Moment is a good read.
Step 14: Don't be crazy.
Being practical means that it doesn't matter where the motivation is coming from, as long as it drives you to do things.If you want to go for a run, you should see hot girls at the park.It's a practical way to get started with running, even though the motivation is to see the hot girls.The mental and/or evolutionary conditioning and patterns have years of momentum behind them.Fighting them won't help.Fighting makes them stronger.Allow them to go beyond and use them for motivation.Remember the wisdom of eastern martial arts, don't resist the opponent, yield to overcome.There is wisdom and strength in yielding.Yielding means allowing what is to be.It's important that you know where the motivation is coming from so it doesn't become a crutch.Awareness will take you beyond the conditioned mind that seeks motivation.You wouldn't need to use 'watching hot girls' or any other external factor as a crutch as right action or words will come naturally as intuitive response from infinitely intelligent unconditioned consciousness.It doesn't need the plank of wood or metal for support after the concrete has dried.In the beginning or during your life journey, external factors may be needed for motivation.No structure or external factor becomes a crutch.You will remain stuck in walls of systematic structural concepts and thoughts if you don't.From time to time, plank of wood may be needed to do some maintenance work.External structure or concepts may be needed to regain the touch with inner depth until you don't need them.It's possible that your level of consciousness isn't the same all the time.If you get a bad review from your boss, you will work harder at your job because you are afraid of being fired.Fear is motivating you to work harder.Be aware that the motivation is coming from fear or it will become a crutch and vicious cycle.You don't want to end up in a situation where you need fear to work hard.You may be motivated to do better if you compare yourself with others.Looking at successful and smart people makes you feel motivated.It's important to know that the motivation is coming from 'comparison' or else you will be stuck there.It can demotivate you to compare yourself with others.You hate your life when you look at successful people.Everyone is different, so experiment to see if you feel motivated by comparison or not.It's fine to compare as long as you are motivated to learn and do better.It doesn't matter if you are comparing with others or not, as long as you know what motivates you.Being aware is enough as it will take you far.Awareness is non-conceptual and infinitely more intelligent than mind.Albert Einstein said that the problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking.What is the same level of thinking?We are stuck in a level of thoughts.What is the level beyond?Thinking in the present moment.