Mental Gymnastics

## An Inner Life that Both Helps and Disturbs We don’t just live *in* the world – we also live *in* our interpretation of the world. Our inner life functions as a kind of control room where sensory impressions, memories, expectations, emotions, and thoughts merge into an experience of "reality." The problem is that this experience is not always neutral or precise. It can be colored by stress, old experiences, self-criticism, or strong emotions. This is why two people can stand in the same situation yet experience entirely different realities. From a psychological perspective, this is not a sign of weakness, but rather a fundamental condition of the human mind: the brain is constantly trying to make sense by interpreting new events in light of what it already "knows." This makes us efficient and predictable, but it also makes us vulnerable to misinterpretations, tunnel vision, and automatic reactions. This is where mental gymnastics become relevant: the ability to examine and adjust our own inner life so we gain more freedom in our choices and greater precision in how we understand ourselves, others, and the situations we find ourselves in. ## MindSight: Seeing Your Own Mind To train mentally, we need a starting point. I like to use the term **mindsight** – the ability to observe one’s own mind. It is not about overanalyzing everything, but rather about discovering that thoughts are events in consciousness, not always truths. Emotions are signals, not necessarily judgments. Impulses are suggestions, not orders. Mindsight can be described as a form of metaperspective: you notice *that* you are thinking, *that* you are feeling, *that* you are being drawn in a certain direction – and in that moment, a small space is created between stimulus and response. In this space lies the opportunity to choose more consciously. Many find this space shrinks under pressure. Stress can make us more reactive, more black-and-white in our assessments, and more locked into old patterns. That’s exactly why mindsight is a skill that should be exercised during periods when life is somewhat stable – so that it is more accessible when life tightens. ## The Brain as a Plastic Organ: You are Shaped by Your Use One of the most hopeful insights in modern psychology and neuroscience is that the brain is **plastic**. This means it can change in response to experience, training, habits, and environment. We are not locked into a fixed "mental level" of resilience, creativity, or emotional regulation. We can develop. Plasticity also carries responsibility: what we repeat, we reinforce. What we avoid often becomes more frightening. What we pay attention to gains greater power. Mental gymnastics is therefore about using the mind in a way that promotes flexibility, perspective, and emotional balance – rather than leaving control to autopilot. This parallels physical training: the body adapts to the strain it encounters. Similarly, the brain adapts to the mental "training program" we practice in daily life – whether it be worry, self-criticism, presence, problem-solving, or curiosity. ## Self-Perception as a Psychological Foundation Self-perception affects how we interpret almost everything: praise and criticism, success and failure, rejection and closeness. A secure self-perception makes us more open to learning and more capable of enduring discomfort without going on the defensive. A fragile self-perception makes us more vulnerable to reading danger into ambiguous signals. In practice, this means mental training is not just about "thinking positively" but about developing a more realistic and friendly relationship with oneself. It is often easier to be flexible and creative when one is not simultaneously fighting against their own inner judge. ## Mental Strength: More than Just Endurance Mental strength is often misunderstood as sheer willpower or the ability to grit one’s teeth. I believe mental strength involves something more nuanced: - Living according to **well-chosen principles** (not just impulses or external expectations). - Maintaining a certain **calm under pressure**, without losing touch with values and perspective. - Understanding one’s own feelings and patterns, allowing for less automatic reactions. - Seeing issues in context and placing things in perspective. - Being able to stand in uncomfortable conversations and conflicts with more confidence. This form of capacity often makes us better in relationships. It makes it easier to take responsibility for our reactions, listen more accurately, and tolerate that others see the world differently than we do. ## Mental Training as a Parallel to Physical Training Most people understand that a strong body is built over time: consistent strain, recovery, progression, and technique. A mind works in a similar way. If you desire a "flexible" mind – more agility, better emotional regulation, more mental surplus – you also need a form of systematic training. Some important parallels: - **Progressive Strain:** You do not train by beginning with the most frightening; you practice gradually. - **Technique:** It is of little help to "give it your all" if you do it in a way that creates more stress. Mental training is often about *how* you relate to thoughts and feelings. - **Regularity:** A little training often beats a lot of training infrequently. - **Recovery:** Without breaks, sleep, and peace, the system becomes more reactive. A helpful thought is that different parts of psychology can act as "manuals" in a mental gym. Particularly, social psychology is relevant because a significant portion of our inner stress and our greatest wounds arise in encounters with other people – and are healed precisely there. ## Creativity as Psychological Freedom Creativity is more than artistic achievements. It is the ability to forge new connections, see more possibilities, and move beyond the ordinary. It is a mental attitude as much as it is a talent. Many describe creativity as an experience of freedom: where thought has room, curiosity leads, and you don’t have to be "right" immediately. At the same time, creativity can be vulnerable to pressure. When demands become too numerous – whether they are external (performance, deadlines, norms) or internal (perfectionism, self-criticism) – curiosity can be stifled. Mental health and creativity often connect here: not because creativity itself "cures" difficulties, but because a more open mind can provide us with more coping strategies. Creative perspectives can resolve conflicts, alleviate stagnation, and help us see ourselves with more nuance. ## Societal Norms and Natural Curiosity Children are often spontaneous, impulsive, and curious. Much of maturation involves learning consideration, regulation, and cooperation. At the same time, some socialization can make us too concerned with fitting in, being "reasonable," and delivering the correct answer. Then, creativity can become a risky endeavor: thinking outside the box can feel like exposing oneself to mistakes and judgment. Mental gymnastics is not about becoming boundless or reckless, but about reclaiming some of the healthy curiosity. Those who dare to ask more questions can often tolerate complexity. And complexity is often where both life mastery and deeper meaning reside. ## Movement, Nature, and Creativity There is something unique about movement that opens the mind. Many experience that thoughts loosen when the body is in motion. Nature can additionally provide a mental space where attention can rest away from the pressures of human-made demands: alerts, obligations, screens, expectations. From a psychological perspective, this can be understood thus: when the brain no longer has to scan for social evaluation and deadlines, capacity is freed up for associations, insights, and problem-solving. Creativity often thrives in a mix of light structure and low threat. At the same time, it is important to note the opposite: **an abundance of external demands** can suppress freedom. It is difficult to be creative when you constantly have to defend your own worth. ## Mental Flexibility: The Ability to Shift Perspective Mental flexibility is the ability to change strategy when the one you are using does not work and to see a situation from various angles. This is a core skill in both problem-solving and emotional regulation. In relationships, flexibility is particularly noticeable. It manifests as the ability to: - Distinguish between intention and effect - Tolerate that two perspectives can be true simultaneously - Let pride give way to curiosity - Shift from accusation to inquiry Flexibility does not mean giving up your own boundaries. It means having more mental tools available before drawing conclusions. ## Philosophical Lateral Thinking as a Mental Technique A practical way to train flexibility is what I call **philosophical lateral thinking**: challenging the first, most obvious track in your mind and consciously seeking alternative interpretations. This can be done with simple questions: - *What else might this mean?* - *What assumptions am I making right now?* - *What would a friend who has my best interests in mind think about this?* - *If this were a movie, what genre am I in – and is there another?* - *What is the most generous interpretation that is still realistic?* The point is not to force positive narratives, but to combat mental rigidity. Under stress, the brain often becomes more literal, more categorical, and more locked in threat mode. Lateral thinking can function as a mental stretch: you expand your range of movement before you take the next step. ## Stress and Strong Emotions: Why We Lose Clarity Under stress, both attention, memory, and judgment can be affected. We may become more short-sighted, more defensive, and more inclined to react to what *feels* true rather than what is most likely true. Strong emotions are not enemies, but they can take charge if we have not trained to meet them. Mental gymnastics involves: - Recognizing the emotion early - Tolerating it in the body without acting it out immediately - Exploring what story the emotion is trying to sell you - Choosing action based on principle, not just reactivity This is demanding, but it is trainable. And it is often here that self-perception and mindsight meet: if you believe your emotions prove you are weak, you are more likely to feel shame and lose your footing. If you see emotions as human signals, it becomes easier to regulate them. ## Relationships as an Arena for Mental Strength Mental strength reveals itself not just in solitary discipline, but in how we handle people. Many conflicts persist because we avoid the difficult conversation. We postpone discomfort, hope it will pass, or let irritation build until it erupts. A more robust psychological capacity may involve: - Tolerating disagreement without perceiving it as rejection - Being clear without being harsh - Listening to understand, not just to respond - Owning your part of the dynamic - Distinguishing between interpretation and fact This can also stimulate creativity in relationships: when we stop looking for "blame," we can begin to look for solutions. ## Meaning: The Essential Question Finally, we encounter a question underlying much mental unrest: *What is the meaning of what I do?* Many live with high activity but low experiences of direction. Others have clear goals but lose themselves along the way. Creating meaning seldom involves finding one grand explanation. For most, it is more about a practice: - Living in accordance with values that actually matter - Tuning into what gives energy rather than just status - Contributing in relationships in a way you can stand by - Being more present in the life you are already living Mental gymnastics can support this process because it increases the level of awareness in everyday life. The more you see your own mind, the easier it becomes to discover which patterns drive you – and whether they are leading you in a direction you truly desire. ## Mental Gymnastics as a Life Practice Mental gymnastics is not a quick fix, nor is it a project where one aims to "optimize oneself" to the inhuman. It is a way of relating to life that takes into account that we are plastic, influenceable, and shapeable. You can think of it as three foundational movements: 1. **Observe** (mindsight): Notice what is happening within you. 2. **Expand** (flexibility): Explore more perspectives than the first. 3. **Choose** (principle strength): Act more in line with values than with short-term relief. Over time, this can foster a kinder and more open mind, strengthened self-esteem, more compassion, and a life with more nuance. It does not make us immune to pain, but it better equips us to meet it without losing ourselves. --- **Interested in diving deeper into this topic?** This is a subject that psychologist Sondre Risholm Liverød discusses further in the podcast episode of the same name. You can find the episode as part of the exercise material on [BeBalanced.ai](https://bebalanced.ai).