📖 5-minute read
Rigid thinking uses absolute words: always, never, everyone, no one, must, should. Flexible thinking notices these and loosens them — because reality is almost never absolute.
'I always mess things up' becomes 'I messed this up. And I've done things well.' 'No one cares about me' becomes 'I feel unseen right now. Some people have shown they care.'
This isn't positive thinking. It's accurate thinking. Absolutes are almost always inaccurate — and inaccuracy makes emotions worse than they need to be.