What if I told you there was one master skill that determined both your emotional wellbeing and your effectiveness in every aspect of life?
Well, there is, and it's called psychological flexibility.
Here's what it is and how to build it:
Some things in life are outside of your control: the country you're born in, your parents, natural disasters.
But why do some people adapt better to life's changing circumstances than others?
How can you respond in ways that help you succeed, rather than making things worse?
Psychological flexibility is the key.
It's the ability to show up in the moment with full awareness and take action in alignment with your values.
But that ability is actually made up of several smaller skills.
Here's a simple way to break it down:
1. Get present.
This is where mindfulness comes in.
By being in the moment, rather than caught up in thoughts of the past or future, you maximize your ability to respond to what's happening, now.
2. Open up.
Once you're in the moment, you have to accept what's present--even if you don't like it.
That includes your own thoughts and feelings, which might be uncomfortable at times.
But it also means realizing those thoughts and feelings aren't *you*.