Overview

Flexible thinking, also known as psychological flexibility, allows us to turn toward our discomfort and disquiet in a way that is open, curious, and kind.

It’s about looking in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way at the places in ourselves and in our lives where we hurt, because the things that have the power to cause us the most pain are often the things we care about most deeply.

Psychological Flexibility Practices

• Defusion
  See our thoughts with enough distance that we can choose what we do next, regardless of our mind’s chatter.
• Self
  Notice the story we’ve constructed of our self and gain perspective about who we are.
• Acceptance
  Allow ourselves to feel even when the feelings are painful or create a sense of vulnerability.
• Presence
  Direct attention in an intentional way rather than by mere habit, noticing what is present here and now, inside us and out.
• Values
  Choose the qualities of being and doing that we want to evolve toward.
• Action
  Create habits that support these choices.

A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters

Steven C. Hayes, PhD