• Has difficulty making smooth transitions
• Perseverates, "locks-on" a topic after others have moved on
• Has trouble accepting a new way to solve a problem
• Resists changes to routine, food, places, etc
• Thinks too much about the same topic
• Concrete, black-and-white thinker (few "shades of gray")
• Has difficulty appreciating another's viewpoint or perspective
• Inflexible, inaccurate perceptions ("nobody likes me", "nobody cares")
• Biased or prejudiced in beliefs
• Close-minded, stubborn
• Rigid, intolerant
From time to time all of us have experienced some of these symptoms. In deciding if there is a problem, one must consider how often and how severely the symptoms are revealed. Only a thorough clinical evaluation can determine if there is a condition requiring treatment.
Stubborn ain't pretty
Biased. Prejudiced. Stubborn. Defiant. Rigid. Obsessed. Feet dug in. Intolerant. Black and white. Unreasonable. Unbending. Can't adjust or adapt. Can't roll with the punches. Close-minded. These are some of the words we use to describe people who lack cognitive (mental) flexibility. Not very attractive, is it?
Cognitive flexibility is a critical trait that enables us to think flexibly, to consider alternative points of view, ideas or thinking that might not match our own. From the child tyrant to the road rage driver to the miltant religious extremist, cognitive inflexibility results in conflict, crises, and poor problem-solving and it prevents learning and understanding. Again, not very attractive, is it?
One requires the other
If we are to succeed in managing our emotions and maintaining good emotional self-control, then we must develop cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is essential to emotional control. Cognitive rigidity and intolerance tend to fuel frustration, anger, resentment, and hatred. Cognitive flexibility tends to breed tolerance, compassion, caring and understanding of others whether or not we agree with them.
Neurofeedback can help quickly
Developing cognitive flexibility is a lifelong pursuit for some people, and not everyone achieves this goal. A very motivated person can examine his thoughts and challenge them for rigidity and bias, and through a lifetime of effort, achieve a reasonable level of cognitive flexibility. The journey goes much easier and faster when we add neurofeedback to the mix.