A category 4 hurricane can pack winds of up 156 miles per hour. Why do palm trees that stretch to the sky often survive hurricane-force winds, while well-built frame houses give way like toothpicks? The fact is, the house is rigid and takes the lashing head-on, while the palm tree is flexible and can bend to the ground. Do you adapt to your environment or are you stuck in your ways?

The world is changing at a blistering rate. Are you willing to change with the times or are you rigid and set in your ways? Think about how your mindset may be helping or hurting your efforts.

Excuses proclaim an unwillingness to change.

Are You Flexible or Rigid?

Use the following 25 strategies to identify whether your habits are propelling you forward or holding you back.

Roll with the punches. Expect the unexpected. Ready or not, the future will happen.

Get real. Accept reality for what it is — not for what you want it to be.

Be positive. Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty?  Make your outlook work for rather than against you. Your mindset matters more than you think.

Challenge your routines.  Are you open to change? “I can’t” and “I don’t want to” trigger the same results.

Be realistic. You can’t control the uncontrollable, but you can control how you respond to those situations.

Face your fears. Face your challenges head-on rather than surrendering your dreams to fear. If you don’t try, you forfeit the opportunity.

Learn from mistakes. Do you repeat mistakes? Make experience your best teacher. Lessons in life will be repeated until they are learned.

Let go of your anger. Do you harbor anger and resentment? Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, nor does it mean approving of, what someone did. It just means that you’re letting go of the anger toward that person.

End the bad relationship. Toxic waste has a tremendous impact on the environment. Consider the impact that toxic people have on your life.

Know what matters most. Are your priorities in order? The more you say “no” to things that don’t matter, the more time you have for things that do.

Keep an open mind. Do you listen to differing viewpoints? Try to see their side of the issue. You just may learn something. 

Leave a bad work situation. If work isn’t fun, you’re playing on the wrong team.

Learn something new. Are you a know-it-all? Unless you learn something new every day, you’re becoming obsolete.

Simplify your life. Your life is as complicated as you make it. Are you stuck in your ways?

Stop overthinking everything. Once you’ve made your decision, don’t look back. Make it work.

Live within your means. When you run out of money, stop buying.

Be kind to yourself.  Do you judge, criticize, or find fault with yourself? Be your own best friend.

Give up control. If you can’t change the outcome, move on to an area within your control.

Make yourself proud. When you constantly seek approval, you give more weight to another person’s opinion than to your own.

Enlist support. Do you try to do everything yourself? Have faith in others. Learn how to delegate.

Just say “no.” When you’re hijacked by other people’s priorities, you don’t have time to tackle your own. Make your priorities a priority.

Manage your expectations. Strive for excellence rather than perfection.

Admit fault. Are you too proud to apologize? The two greatest time-savers are saying “I don’t know” and “I was wrong.”

Know when to quit. If you reach a dead end, it may be time to stop.

Live with honor. Everything has a price, but not everything should be for sale. Listen to your conscience. That’s why you have one.

People Change Only When Change Is Their Choice

Although your habits have served you in the past, that may not be true today. The reality is, applying old formulas to new world problems doesn’t add up. If you’re using a hammer when the job requires a screwdriver, you’re going to face troubled times ahead. Therefore, don’t wait for storm clouds to appear before you act. Embrace change while the sun is still shining. Are you stuck in your ways?

Are You Stuck in Your Ways? Be Open to Change

Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.

Additional Reading:
Are You Set in Your Ways?
Change Your Priorities: Change Your Life
The Benefits of Being Open-Minded
30 Habits That Create Enormous Distress
What Do Your Habits Say About You?
You Can’t Force People to Change
What Would You Give Up to Get What You Want?

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