Rigid thinking, how to escape it:

Escaping rigid thinking — great question. It’s something a lot of people struggle with, especially in times of stress or when dealing with deeply rooted beliefs.

Here are some ways to break free from it:

1. Recognize You’re Doing It

The first step is noticing when your thinking is rigid. Clues include:

Black-and-white or all-or-nothing thinking.

Getting defensive when challenged.

Feeling uncomfortable with ambiguity or change.

Ask yourself: “Am I holding this belief too tightly?” or “Am I reacting or responding?”

2. Practice Cognitive Flexibility

This means consciously entertaining multiple perspectives:

Try thinking: “What’s another way to look at this?”

Use thought experiments: “If someone I respect disagreed with me, what might they say?”

3. Embrace Uncertainty

Rigid thinking often comes from the need for control. Learn to tolerate not knowing. Meditative practices, like mindfulness or even can train the mind to sit with uncertainty.

4. Challenge Core Beliefs

Sometimes rigidity is built on outdated or inherited beliefs. Question:

Is this still true for me?

Where did I learn this?

What evidence supports or contradicts this belief?

5. Expose Yourself to Contradictory Ideas

Read books or listen to people with very different perspectives — especially ones that make you uncomfortable. The goal isn’t to agree, but to stretch your mental frame.

6. Work with Emotions

Rigid thinking is often emotional. When you feel fear, shame, or anger around a belief, that’s a signal. Explore the emotion — what is it protecting? What story is it telling?

7. Creative Play

Art, writing, improvisation, or even lucid dreaming can unlock nonlinear thinking. Space to play = space to think differently.

Shervan K Shahhian