Mental flexibility: what is it, what is it for and how to train it?

Let's see what mental flexibility is, how it influences our lives and how we can foster it.

Some of the skills that allow human beings to adapt to the changing environment in which they live are cognitive processes, learning, socialization with other people, among others.

In this sense, there is an aptitude of the human brain that should be highlighted, as it influences multiple processes of great importance for the adaptation of the human being to the environment, and that is none other than mental flexibility.

Next we will see in greater detail what mental flexibility consists of and what is its importance in the adaptation of the human being to diverse contexts and situations.

What is mental flexibility?

Mental flexibility is a capacity possessed by the brain that allows us to efficiently adjust cognitive processes and behavior to contexts and situations that are novel, unexpected and/or unstable, in order to adapt to the environment and the demands that arise.The aim is to adapt to the environment and the demands that arise.

It should be noted that mental flexibility is a rather complex psychological construct, since it encompasses numerous mental and behavioral processes of the human being and is continuously in a dynamic of change and adaptation depending on the environment, the situation, the culture, the stage of the life cycle in which the person finds him/herself, etc.

It also offers the ability to restructure our previous knowledge, while assimilating new learning, in order to be able to adapt to new situations.It also offers the ability to restructure our previous knowledge, while assimilating new learning, in order to be able to adapt to ever-changing demands and/or solve various problems or unknowns.

On the other hand, mental or cognitive flexibility also allows people to work on several tasks in parallel or along a successive process, all without overloading the brain and without interference between one task and another, thus allowing all tasks to be completed successfully.

Main characteristics of mental flexibility

Mental flexibility is closely related to fluid intelligence and, therefore, influences fluid reasoning and human abilities to solve various novel problems that may arise in a flexible and efficient manner.

In this sense, mental flexibility is one of the higher cognitive skills of metacognition, and, as such, it influences various cognitive processes such as behavioral control, knowledge, awareness and learning, among others. A person's awareness of his or her own capacity within these cognitive processes allows him to control his skills and knowledge more efficiently so that he can act in a voluntary and controlled manner in order to promote his own learning, and thus his own advancement and improvement in different areas.

Another characteristic is that mental flexibility influences executive functionsIt is therefore very relevant in learning and thus affects lifelong development, as well as academic and occupational success. This is so because mental flexibility allows people to make plans, set goals and objectives, to set themselves on track with previously established plans, to assess their own actions throughout the process, as well as to learn from mistakes, correct them and avoid making them again.

Mental flexibility also allows people to to take into account other values, beliefs and ideasThis is to say, other ways of thinking that others have and at the same time to understand other points of view, respecting oneself if they are different from one's own, being able to value other perspectives and options in addition to the one that one had previously. This is why mental flexibility is closely associated with empathy, which facilitates and at the same time improves the capacity of human beings in their social interactions with others.

When practicing Mindfulness, mental flexibility offers the possibility of implementing all the mental skills necessary to pay full attention to the present moment, so that the person is focused on all the nuances of the here and now, which can facilitate a better adaptation to certain contexts and circumstances. To achieve this, it is necessary to have an attitude of openness to the present moment. is necessary to have an attitude of openness to the experience and to act without judgment.

As previously mentioned, mental flexibility is that it offers the human being the possibility of adapting quickly to changes or novelties in the environment, making it possible to change behavior at the moment according to the demands of the context and also to anticipate possible mistakes or negative consequences in order to avoid them or, at least, to learn from them to avoid their repetition.

On the other hand, this mental flexibility helps people to tolerate the changes that may arise during a task and thus generate more effective alternatives.

Proper mental flexibility, which has been sufficiently trained through practice in tasks that demand enough cognitive work for the brain to be exercised in it, will make it easier for the person to efficiently make the transition from one task to another, will make it easier for the person to efficiently make the transition from one task to another in a sequential manner sequentially without one interfering with the other, as well as allowing the possibility of performing two tasks simultaneously without losing concentration and completing both successfully.

Its importance in crisis situations

In difficult times, such as those experienced during the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus, a well-developed mental flexibility is a fundamental tool for coping with suffering and emotional discomfort in the best possible way. and coping with suffering and emotional discomfort in the best possible way..

On the other hand, mental inflexibility can worsen the problems that had been dragging on before a period of crisis, so that this situation of uncertainty to which it is difficult to adapt gives rise to problems of many kinds.

Mental flexibility is closely related to resilienceresilience, a concept that in psychology refers to the human being's capacity to face adversities through thoughts and behaviors that make adaptation possible. To do this, you must take perspective, contemplating all the alternatives to the possibilities that are within reach and implement a series of behaviors that are aimed at the objectives that allow you to move forward in these difficult situations and even come out reinforced in the future in which similar situations could arise.

Tips for training and promoting mental flexibility

Some of the tips that may be useful for training mental flexibility are the following:

• Not to be too rigid and to be open to new learning, possible changes and other points of view.
• Actively listen to other people in order to value and learn about other ways of seeing things.
• Try to see things from multiple perspectives or points of view.
• Be proactive, so that we are prepared for any unexpected event and act.
• Train creativity through various artistic activities.
• Seek out tasks that help to work the mind, such as learning a new language, reading, taking courses, etc.
• Maintain the curiosity to learn throughout life and in different fields (e.g., science, art, etc.).
• Practice sports, since it has been proven that exercise helps the brain to oxygenate.
• When faced with a particular challenge or circumstance, evaluate the multiple options available to us.
• Exercises can also be done to train the different executive functions.