Breaking free of habitual thought patterns to regain clarity of mind

(Photo credits: @andreapiacquadio_ on Instagram)

Many of us relate to life intellectually. Our thought processes, cultural conditioning and intellectual framework inform the way we approach life. They provide us with structure and direction, helping us meet new situations with greater confidence and assurance. Perhaps they may function as a roadmap, with clearly demarcated points, each point helping us chart a steady conceptual path to our next destination. 

These set of mental frameworks have been instilled in us since our childhood, in particular through our life’s experiences and cultural conditioning. Our thoughts, values and perspectives on aspects of life such as religion, politics and ethics, are made up of society’s collective beliefs that have formed through centuries—ones that are shaped by our cumulative experiences, including environmental and other influencing forces. 

Are you aware of your thought patterns?

We internalise these beliefs as truths and integrate them into our sense of self. However, they may become so much a part of our sense of self that we may not be objectively aware of them. The ability to observe and actively question our beliefs shows a healthy relationship with our thought patterns. But even the best of us still fall prey to cognitive biases; fixed patterns of thoughts that affect our rational judgement. 

This shortcut in our thinking can lead us to make decisions that might not be completely fair or accurate. We may only pay attention to information that supports what we already believe and ignore other important facts. Other times, our judgement can be influenced by how information is presented to us, making us see things differently depending on how they're framed. 

These biases can greatly affect how we perceive the world and make choices, even if we don't intend for them to. More often than not, we don’t even realise we are relying on shortcuts in our thinking. Where do they come from?

What are habitual thought patterns?

Consider the shock that prehistoric humans felt when first told that the world was round, not flat, or when Copernicus first proposed that the earth moved around the sun, not the other way round, or the infuriation of the church when Darwin contradicted the Adam and Eve story with his theory on evolution. These have now become a common understanding to us in the modern world but they were once a startling repudiation of truth for people in the past.

Our natural resistance to beliefs that contradict our understanding, is one of the ways we subconsciously protect ourselves from shock. This mental defensiveness typically manifests itself through habitual thoughts and mental inflexibility, occurring the same way a muscle becomes stiff—through lack of stretching and use. Our mind forms habitual grooves or tracks and begins to travel only along the same path. We tend to hold on to familiar beliefs and concepts and reject, sometimes subconsciously, ones that oppose them. If we had an experience that worked well for us, we will remember it and continue the behaviour. Evolutionarily, this conserves energy and helps to protect us from danger.

However, with the ubiquitousness of social media—where the spread of ideas and news becomes increasingly fast-paced—mental inflexibility can become a debilitating liability, resulting in issues adapting to a constantly changing environmental thoughtsphere. When our minds get stuck in familiar patterns, it becomes challenging to embrace new ideas and to adjust to change. This may lead to a lack of confidence when engaging in our daily lives, where quick responsiveness is often necessary.

How to retrain our mind to increase mental flexibility and responsiveness?

Improving mental flexibility involves cultivating a mindset that embraces change, adaptability and openness to new ideas. Just like a muscle, it requires conscious effort and practice. New beliefs are like newly laid train tracks in the mind; they can lead us to new places and open up new ways of interpreting our life experiences. 

One active way to enhance mental flexibility is through exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences. Actively seeking out different viewpoints, going for regular travels overseas and immersing oneself in unfamiliar environments can broaden horizons and challenge existing beliefs. New experiences require our brain to make new mental tracks, opening up new pathways, just like building new roads in a country. 

Additionally, practising self-reflection can help develop awareness of our cognitive biases and rigid thinking patterns, allowing for intentional shifts in perspective. When we develop a curiosity towards our own thoughts, reflecting on why we think the way we do, it can reveal insights into our psyche as well as our lives in general. Cultivating a growth mindset, where challenges are seen as opportunities for learning and personal development, can also foster mental flexibility. We begin to regroove our mind from one of worry, to one of a growth mindset.

Perhaps the most straightforward and fun way, is simply to travel. Travelling opens up our horizons and shows us new ways of looking at life in a fun and enjoyable way!

Increasing confidence to engage in today’s fast-changing thoughtsphere

As the world rapidly evolves, demanding suppleness, openness to new ideas and a willingness to adapt, we recognise that improving our mental flexibility is an ongoing process requiring patience and perseverance. Just like building muscles take time, achieving mental flexibility also requires discipline and dedication. While it may be difficult to begin with, it gets easier over time. The mental process of curiosity, questioning and culling new ideas is a daily routine, just like eating and sleeping is. Developing good mental habits can go a long way in ensuring we remain resilient and responsive in today’s fast-changing thoughtsphere.

By creating a healthy relationship with our thoughts—cultivating self-awareness, questioning our own belief and engaging in open-minded dialogue—we can begin on the journey to break free of our mental chains, open up new pathways and discover never-revealed before possibilities in life.  And if all options fail, well, just travel!