With all that is going on in our world, the words of Charles Darwin are particularly insightful to me. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.” So, what does adaptability really mean and why is it important?
Adaptability in the context of human behavior is the ability to adjust or shift our mindset and/or our behavior with changing conditions and situations. And with so much going on in the world, it is easy to see how having the ability to quickly adapt is even more important today.
From what I have seen, people who are holding on to the way things used to be are the ones who are experiencing the most stress and anxiety. That’s because they are frozen in the past and spend time lamenting the way things used to be. Meanwhile, the world rapidly evolves around them causing them to wake up one day and wonder what happened. Basically, they fail to see that they are the ones that need to change.
The first step in the journey of adaptation begins with the ability to recognize when we are stuck in our old patterns of thinking. The second step is to make a decision to take affirmative steps to become unstuck. Understandably, stepping away from the familiar is scary, intimidating, and uncomfortable. And often we give up before we even begin. That’s because change or adaptation requires mental and emotional fortitude to not just face uncertainty, but to also embrace it.
HOW TO FLEX YOUR ADAPTATION MUSCLES
With our world turned upside down, it is not surprising that most of us are having trouble adapting to some extent. But no matter where you are on the continuum of adaptation, here are few ideas for you to consider as you flex your adaptation muscles:
Breaking mental habits involves risks. If the idea of taking a risk to think in a new way is too scary, start small. Maybe start by reading something that you wouldn’t normally read. Or seek out someone who you know sees the world differently than you and listen openly, without judgment.
Enlist others in helping you change or adapt. Learning something new is one of the best ways to break out of thought patterns. Perhaps you can ask people who are close to you to try something new with you. It might involve something as simple as doing something different for fun.
Reflect on how you think or make decisions. Next time you are faced with a decision, take a moment to consider what assumptions you are making in this process. Take a moment to challenge those assumptions by asking yourself these questions:
“How do I know that is true?”
“What has changed since I was faced with a similar decision?”
“What is another way to think about this assumption?”
Develop the ability to “unlearn” something. A simple way to think about this might be a sport you learned to play. For example, my husband and I are taking golf lessons together. He is a pretty good golfer and I am very much a beginner. When the instructor shows us something new, I have no mental patterns that prevent me from giving it a try. However, my husband has to rethink what he is currently doing before he can try a new technique. To him, making a change carries a significant risk of setting him back. For me, I have nothing to lose.
Adaptation means change – and change is hard for all of us. Our mindfulness practice is a powerful tool in this journey because it helps us become aware of our thoughts and how they influence what we believe. See below for a Levelhead exercise designed to help you become aware of your wandering mind and how you can gain control over your attention.
On a final note, be patient with yourself. Change is hard, especially when you are faced with the need to make changes or adapt in almost every aspect of your life.