Achieving Flexibility: How a Journey of Self-Improvement Helped Me
We all experience situations in life where we feel trapped, whether in our personal or professional lives. It becomes even more challenging when we face unexpected obstacles like the global pandemic that disrupted our daily routines and life as we know it. However, through my personal journey of self-improvement, I learned that regardless of how difficult the situation may seem, we can always find ways to adapt, grow, and evolve. Achieving flexibility is crucial not only in times of crisis but also in achieving long-term goals and becoming the best version of ourselves.
The Importance of Flexibility in Personal Growth
Before we can discuss practical tips for achieving flexibility, it’s vital to understand what flexibility means in the context of personal growth and why it’s important. Flexibility means being able to adjust to changing circumstances, embrace new challenges, and adapt to different situations. By being flexible, we expand our perspectives and explore new opportunities that we might have missed in our rigid mindsets.
If we fail to be flexible, we risk limiting ourselves to our comfort zones, missing out on learning opportunities, and ultimately not reaching our full potential.
During my early 20s, I was attached to my comfort zone, terrified to try new things, and inflexible in my thinking. However, after my dad experienced a massive heart attack, I realized that life can change abruptly, and we need to adjust to life’s challenges quickly. My dad’s health crisis was an eye-opener for me – it made me reevaluate my priorities, take risks, and most importantly, helped me adapt to the uncertainty that comes with life’s ups and downs.
The Journey Towards Achieving Flexibility
Self-reflection and introspection made me aware that it was essential to break out of my comfort zone and challenge myself both mentally and physically. The following steps helped me become more adaptable and flexible.
1. Adopt a Growth Mindset
The first step towards flexibility and personal growth is adopting a growth mindset. A growth mindset acknowledges that our abilities are not fixed, and our efforts lead to success. When we embrace a growth-mindset, we become less scared of failures, more receptive to feedback, and open to different perspectives. We begin to focus on what we can do and learn from our experiences instead of fixating on what we can’t do.
To cultivate a growth mindset, I read books on personal growth, watched motivational videos, and listened to podcasts that highlighted the importance of adopting a growth mindset. Gradually, I began to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.
2. Embrace New Experiences
To be flexible, we need to push our boundaries and challenge ourselves. Embracing new experiences helps break the monotony of life and provides new insights. Saying “yes” to new experiences that scared me – like trying a new hobby like salsa dancing, experimenting with new cuisine, or traveling solo – facilitated my flexibility and adaptability in adjusting to novel environments.
3. Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude
Practicing mindfulness and gratitude encourages positivity towards life. Mindfulness helps in being aware of our thoughts and emotions, and we can manage our reactions to different circumstances better. Gratitude helps us appreciate what we have in our lives and be less worried about what we lack.
I started practicing mindfulness through meditation and journaling, and daily writing three things I was grateful for cultivated a positive mindset for dealing with daily challenges.
4. Stay Open to Feedback
Asking for feedback can be intimidating as it means acknowledging our flaws and areas where we need to improve. Nonetheless, feedback can be a powerful tool for personal growth and flexibility. Feedback offers a different perspective on our actions and thought processes, which we may have missed earlier, allows us to recognize our weaknesses, and work on them to become better versions of ourselves.
I began to ask for feedback from people I trusted – like my manager at work, close friends, and family. Initially, receiving constructive criticism was tough, but over time, I learned to view feedback as a way to improve myself.
5. Embrace Failure
Failure is inevitable and a powerful learning experience. When we embrace failure, we become less scared of taking risks, resilient in the face of adversity, and flexible in our thinking. I began viewing my failures as opportunities to learn and grow rather than signs of incompetence. Accepting my mistakes, reflecting on them, and using them as stepping stones towards my goals helped in developing flexibility in my thinking.
Conclusion
Achieving flexibility in personal and professional life requires adopting a growth mindset, embracing new experiences, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, staying open to feedback, and embracing failures. My journey towards achieving flexibility has taught me that personal growth is a continuous process of learning and self-improvement. By being adaptable and flexible, we can overcome challenges, embrace opportunities, and ultimately become the best version of ourselves.