How to Find Inner Peace: Discover Your Psychological Flexibility

One of my favourite tools to complete with with clients is the Hexaflex of Psychological Flexibility from ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy).

The 6 core practices are:

Contact with the Present Moment

Being grounded and connected to your sensory experiences in each and every moment.

It's the only moment that you can take any action in.

Experiential Acceptance

Learning to have non-judgemental awareness of your internal and external events and experiences. Making space for the experience, knowing that it is normal, transient and harmless.

What resists, persists.

Allow experiences to simply be observed can be highly transformational.

Cognitive Defusion

Learning that your thoughts, feelings and sensations are processes and patterns to observe, rather than getting attached to the meaning or the content.

This skill is particularly useful when you have spent a long time dissecting the rationality or validity of your thinking and still find yourself being caught up in cycles of worry or rumination.

Self as Context (Observing Self)

Connecting to the part of you that observes all of your experiences, the Observing Self.

This part of you that is consistent, immune to the emotional highs and lows of daily life.

If you've ever felt like you could look down at yourself from a bird's eye view of the moment, then you have connected to your observing self

Values Definition

Knowing what your purpose, mission and values helps bring vitality to life.

This is also about getting clear about what is important in your life so that you can then change how you show up in the world.

I like to think of this as being akin to your legacy - how would you like others to remember you?

Committed Action

In each moment, taking steps towards valued goals. It might mean changing behaviour to reflect your values or acting and taking those steps even if there are uncomfortable thoughts or feelings. Practicing these skills in combination can help you lead a more engaged, courageous and contented life.

*Acceptance & Commitment Therapy is a mindfulness-based CBT-style approach that looks to build openness, awareness and engagement with your life.

Here's my invitation to you - book a free, no-pressure phone consultation call today and discover how I can support you to greater self acceptance.

Rachel x

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