Life Skills: Flexible vs Rigid

Do you approach life as Flexible or Rigid?

Productive Life Skill: Flexible
Destructive Life Skill: Rigid

Flexibility is the ability to change and/or adapt when new information enters our life. When we make decisions, we make those decisions based on the information we have at that moment in time. When we become aware of new information, it requires us to re-evaluate. Sometimes the decision and actions we choose will remain the same but sometimes the new information presents the situation in a different light and requires us to alter our course of action.

Life is fluid and constantly provides us feedback. A refusal to be open to life’s feedback causes us to be rigid and shortsighted. Rigidity rejects new information before considering it. A rigid person continues a course of action even when life’s feedback suggests the original plan is in need of changes.

Change sometimes feels uncomfortable. We are creatures of habit and have a tendency to want our lives to remain what we perceive as comfortable. When we get too comfortable in our lives and reject needed change, our lives often become full of conflict and turmoil.

10 Characteristics of Flexible People:

1. considers new information
2. not threatened by other’s opinions
3. has the ability to alter their original plan of action
4. can listen to others
5. understands they are not always right
6. actively seeks to see a situation from many different perspectives
7. enjoys people
8. does not take things personally
9. has a diverse social group
10. moves toward solutions and away from problems

10 Characteristics of Rigid People:

1. rejects new information as invalid before evaluating it
2. are threatened by other’s opinions
3. will not alter their plan of action for any reason
4. resistant to listening to others
5. will avoid change even though their plan is not working as they had hoped
6. insist others adopt their way of thinking
7. skeptical of most people
8. goes to extreme measures to avoid change
9. has a tendency to be judgemental
10. perfectionistic

The Key:

Becoming a flexible vs rigid person is to acknowledge and consider new information before rejecting it. New information can cause upheaval in our lives but it can also bring about a much needed change. Don’t be afraid to alter your life course in a new direction if the old isn’t working.

The Challenge:

What situation is most frustrating in your life right now? Chances are you are being rigid in that situation and have rejected the feedback life has offered you.